April 28, 2007

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - UNLV baseball battled back from an early deficit and had a one-run lead after seven innings but could not make it hold up against Utah as the Rebels lost 10-6 in a Mountain West Conference game at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Leading 6-5 heading into the eighth inning, UNLV surrendered four runs to the Utes in the frame and then another run in the ninth that gave the Rebels their 12th consecutive loss and an overall record of 14-31, 3-11 in the MWC. Utah improved to 21-21 on the season and 9-5 in league games.

In the game-deciding eighth, Rebel relievers Stephen Singer, Chris Saddoris and Adam Moser gave up the four runs on four hits and two errors, with Saddoris (0-5) taking the loss. Geoff Wolfgramm (1-1) worked a scoreless seventh inning and benefited from the big eighth inning to collect his first win of the season.

Utah got to Rebel starter Matt Hutchison early, scoring single runs in the first and second innings and then a pair in the third to grab an early 4-0 lead. Hutchison's day was done following the third frame and he allowed those runs on seven hits and three walks while also striking out two Utes.

UNLV would not go quietly though and chipped away at the lead, getting three runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to knot the game at four.

Xavier Scruggs singled to start the fourth and then with one out Rance Roundy singled to move Scruggs to third and Roundy moved up 90 feet when Ute right fielder Nate Burnham bobbled the ball. Michael Brenly then hit a ground-ball out that scored Scruggs to get UNLV on the board. Braden Walker followed by roping a double to center that brought Roundy home and Walker crossed the plate on a single by Calvin Beamon to bring the Rebels to within one at 4-3.

The Rebels tied the game in the fifth on a double by Scruggs that scored Keith Smith and after the Utes retook the lead with a run in the top of the sixth, UNLV stormed back with two of their own in the bottom. Smith came through with two out and two on, hitting a double to left field that plated Brenly and Ryan Kowalski to put the Rebels back out in front at 6-5.

But the Rebel bullpen could not make the lead hold and a trio of Ute relievers, beginning with Wolfgramm, allowed just two Rebel hits the rest of the way to close out the game.

Smith had a strong day at the plate for the Rebels, going 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored and Scruggs also collected four hits on the afternoon. Those two combined for eight of UNLV's 13 hits on the afternoon. Dustin Hennis went 4-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored and the Utes collected 17 hits in the game.

UNLV and Utah close out their three-game series tomorrow at Earl E. Wilson Stadium with the first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. (PT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium and the game will be carried live on KSHP 1400 AM.