March 11, 2008
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - Behind a strong effort from its bullpen, UNLV baseball beat Southern Utah 6-4 in a non-conference tilt at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on Tuesday night in front of 334 fans.
Thomas Whitsett got a big strikeout with the bases loaded to preserve a tie ball game and he tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in collecting his first career decision. Adam Moser picked up the final two outs of the night to earn his first save as the Rebels evened their record at 7-7. SUU starter took the loss, giving up all six runs in 5.1 innings as the Thunderbirds saw their record evened at 5-5.
Overall the Rebel bullpen was stellar, as Whitsett, Michael Goodman and Moser working 5.1 scoreless innings, giving up just two hits between the three of them.
The Rebels jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, getting an RBI single by Steve Rinaudo in the first and then added three runs in the second on a single, a throwing error and a sacrifice fly. J.J. Sferra singled home the first run of the rally, and then Jarred Frierson scored on a throwing error on the play. Jesse Wight then capped the inning with a sacrifice fly, giving the Rebels a 4-0 lead.
SUU countered with three runs in the top of the third with Bucky Aona driving in two singling in two runs, then he later scored on a throwing error by Rebel right fielder Rance Roundy. The Thunderbirds then tied the game in the top of the fourth on a single by Keli'i Zablan, and they would later load the bases, threatening to take the lead. UNLV reliever Thomas Whitsett struck out Aona to keep the game tied at four.
UNLV responded in the bottom half of the frame, loading the bases with one out setting up a sacrifice fly by Wight for a 5-4 lead. The Rebels then added an insurance run in the sixth on another sacrifice fly by Sferra.
Those two runs would be more than enough with the way the Rebel bullpen pitched on Tuesday night.
Sferra knocked in two runs and had a pair of hits and Wight also knocked in a pair of runs as well to lead the Rebels at the plate.
UNLV now embarks on a six-game road trip, beginning with a three-game set against New Mexico that begins at Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday at 5:00 p.m. (PT). It is the Mountain West Conference opener for both squads.
