May 15, 2007
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - Sophomore catcher Michael Brenly hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out to give UNLV baseball a 9-5 win over Southern Utah on Tuesday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
In the Rebels' final non-conference game of the regular season, they went into the bottom of the ninth tied with the Thunderbirds at five, but got a single, double and then a walk to load the bases. Brenly then delivered in the clutch, hitting a towering drive that fell just short of the scoreboard past the left-field fence, to the delight of the 361 fans in attendence.
With the win UNLV improved to 19-34 on the year with Adam Moser (5-2) coming out of the bullpen to pick up the win, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings. SUU dropped to 11-41 and reliever Alec Reichle (3-2) took the loss, as he put the first two runners on base to start the final frame.
It took the Rebels a little while to get going offensively, as they trailed 5-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before they scored four runs in the frame to tie the game.
Willie Bowman reached on a throwing error by SUU starter Matt Wilson, who threw high to first base on a bunt attempt, allowing Bowman to go all the way to second. Calvin Beamon singled in Bowman to make it a 5-2 game, and then Beamon scored on a triple by Ryan Kowalski that made it a two-run affair.
Following a pop out, Efren Navarro Jr. stroked a double to center field that pushed Kowalski home to cut the SUU lead to one, and then he crossed the plate on a single by Xavier Scruggs that tied the game at five.
Bowman kept it a tie game in the top of the seventh with his arm, gunning down Bucky Anoa at home as he was trying to score from second on a single to left field.
UNLV mounted a threat in the bottom of the eighth, as Brenly singled to lead off the inning and then pinch hitter Chris Bonnell drew a walk to put two runners on with no out, bringing Beamon to the plate. Reichle came out of the SUU bullpen and got a fielder's choice at second, putting runners on the corners. Reichle then got Kowalski to pop out and then Smith to hit into a fielder's choice to shortstop to end the inning.
Scruggs started the ninth-inning rally with a one-out single and then Gailen roped a double to the left field wall that moved Scruggs to third. Mac Nelson came in out of the Thunderbirrd bullpen and intentionally walked Walker, loading the bases for Brenly. He then hit his second home run of the season to end the game.
The Rebels finished the game with 14 hits with Brenly leading the way with a game-high three on the evening. Gailen scored twice and also pitched the first two innings of the game, giving up four runs, two of them earned.
UNLV wraps up its regular season with a three-game series against Air Force that begins Thursday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium at 6:30 p.m. (PT). The 2007 Mountain West Conference Championship is next week at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, beginning May 23 through the 26.
-UNLV-
