March 28, 2008
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - UNLV and TCU were locked in a tie ball game heading into the seventh inning, but the Rebels faltered down the stretch and lost 6-2 to the Horned Frogs on Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
In a game that was a pitcher's duel throughout most of the evening, 502 fans watched as the Rebels fell to 10-12 overall, 2-2 in Mountain West Conference play. UNLV starter Matt Hutchison (1-2) worked six solid innings before running into trouble in the seventh, as he took the loss, giving up four runs on six hits. TCU moved to 14-10 overall, 2-2 in league play, with Tyler Lockwood (2-0) tossing a complete game to pick up the win, striking out seven and giving up two runs on eight hits.
TCU broke open a tie game in the top of the seventh, pushing four runs across the plate on five hits after they had only collected three hits off of Hutchison in the opening six frames. The big hit in the rally was a Chris Ellington, who laced a two-run triple to the left-field gap with one out that spelled the end of the night for Hutchison. Marc Baca came out of the Rebel bullpen and gave up two more runs on a single and then a double, part of five-straight hits for the Horned Frogs in the inning.
UNLV and TCU traded runs to open the game, as the Horned Frogs struck first, scoring a run in the first inning thanks largely to two Rebel errors. Clint Arnold singled with one out and then advanced to second when Jesse Wight bobbled the ball. Arnold came around to score on a fielding error by Rebel shortstop Anthony Morel, who misplayed a grounder that went into shallow center field.
The Rebels punched back in the second, in part to a TCU error that allowed Braden Walker to reach base to open the frame. He moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a single and then scored on a ground out by Morel to tie the score at one.
J.J. Sferra had a trio of hits to pace the Rebels, while Ryan Thornton collected two hits as well as part of an eight-hit attack. TCU was led at the plated by Ben Carruthers, Clint Arnold and Steve Ellington, who each had a pair of hits while TCU finished with 11 on the evening.
UNLV and TCU continue their series tomorrow, with the first pitch set for 2:00 p.m. (PDT) at Wilson Stadium. Rebel right-hander Corey Hales will take the mound for the Rebels while Sean Hoelscher is set to start for the Horned Frogs.
