March 4, 2007
Final Stats
RENO, Nev. - UNLV baseball put together one of its strongest outings on the mound on Sunday, but an error in the bottom of the sixth broke a tie as the Rebels lost 2-1 to Nevada, Reno at Peccole Park. It was the 10th game this season for UNLV that was decided by two runs or less, and the team is 5-5 in those contests.
Rebel freshman Matt Hutchison (0-3) tossed 6.2 strong innings, giving up just two runs, one earned, on only four hits in taking the tough-luck loss to remain winless in six career starts. With two outs and Jason Rodriguez at third, Hutchison got a groundball to third but Willie Bowman threw wide of first, allowing the game-winning run to cross the plate.
UNLV dropped its third straight and is now 8-11 on the year while UNR improved to 9-9 this season. Wolf Pack starter Kyle Howe (1-1) was just as effective on the mound, earning the win by giving up just one run on five hits in six innings of work. Mario Rivera allowed one hit over the final 2.2 innings to earn his first save of the year.
The Rebels had tied the game at one in the top of the sixth off the bat of outfielder Keith Smith.
Blake Gailen hit a double to left center with one out and then scored on a single by Smith, ended up at second and in position to give the Rebels the lead on a throwing error by Howe. UNLV could not get Smith in though, as Howe got Efren Navarro Jr. to strike out swinging and then Chad Miller to ground out to shortstop.
UNR put the first run on the board in the third inning on the legs of David Ciarlo, who singled, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and then scored on another ground out.
The Rebels had a pair of opportunities to tie the game in the late innings, but did not get the timely hit they needed knot the score.
In the seventh inning, the Rebels loaded the bases with two outs on a single by Rance Roundy and then a walk and a hit batter. Gailen came to the plate but Rivera got a fly ball to right field to end the threat. Then in the ninth Roundy again was at third with two out and again Rivera got out of inning, getting Ryan Kowalski to ground out to short to end the game.
UNLV finished the game with seven hits while UNR mustered just four on the afternoon and Roundy went 3-for-4 with three singles for the Rebels.
UNLV remains on the road, traveling to Lubbock, Texas, for a two-game series with the Red Raiders that gets underway Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. (PST) at Dan Law Field.
