March 16, 2007
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The Rebels jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but eight BYU runs over the last four innings put the Cougars ahead for good as the UNLV baseball team fell to BYU 9-8 Friday night from Earl Wilson Stadium.
Each team jumped out of the gate with single runs in their half of the first inning, but UNLV took control in the bottom of the fourth inning. Blake Gailen was hit by a pitch to lead off the stanza, and Xavier Scruggs followed with a towering homerun to left-center off of Couger starter Jake Wortham. Ryan Kowalski scored later in the inning on a RBI groundout by Braden Walker.
UNLV got a single run in the fifth inning to push the Rebel lead to four, thanks to a RBI single from Michael Brenly. The Cougars (12-7, 1-1 MWC) stormed back, as they took advantage of a few Rebel miscues in the sixth inning, scoring three unearned runs with the big blow coming on a two-run go-ahead triple off the bat of BYU's Kent Walton.
The Rebels tied the score in the bottom of the sixth on a solo shot by Keith Smith, his second homer of the season. The Cougars provided the final margin of victory in the eighth inning with three runs as Walton doubled in the first run, and then scored along with Steve Parker on a two-run double by Kasey Ko.
UNLV's ninth inning comeback fell just short as the Rebels could only muster two in the final stanza. Scruggs doubled to left field with one out to start the run and Kowalski walked to bring the tying run to the plate. After a strikeout, Calvin Beamon singled through the right side to put runners at first and third with two gone. Walker then singled up-the-middle to put runners at the corners for Keith Smith. After BYU brought in freshman reliever Brad Kidd, Smith swung at the first offering he saw and flew to center to end the game.
BYU got a strong relief appearance from Matt Jenson who got the win after hurling four and a third innings, striking out five Rebel hitters. Walton finished 4-4 with three batted in and Ko chalked up three hits and three RBI.
Seven Rebel hitters had multi-hit games, as all but one starter had at least one base knock.
UNLV (10-16, 1-1 MWC) wasted a very good effort from starter Ryan Tabor, who went five innings allowing only one run on four hits, fanning six hitters in the no-decision.
The rubber game of the three-game against BYU is set for Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Earl E. Wilson Field. BYU will throw 6-3 right-hander Jesse Craig (2-2) and the Rebels are undecided about who will have the ball tomorrow.
