March 7, 2008

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - In a game where both teams had chances to end it, San Francisco took advantage of a run-scoring ground out to earn a hard fought 8-7 win over UNLV in a game that lasted 13 innings on Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

UNLV reliever Adam Moser, who worked 4.1 innings out of the pen, gave up a single to Tavo Hall to open the top of the 13 th inning. Following a sacrifice bunt, Rebel catcher Braden Walker had a passed ball, moving Hall up to third, where he would then score on a ground out. The Rebels put two runners on in the bottom of the inning but could not knot the score in front of 417 fans in attendance.

The two teams left a combined 26 runners on base, including 16 alone by the Rebels, who lost their third straight in dropping to 5-6 on the year. Moser (2-1) was charged with the loss, although he pitched well, striking out seven and allowing just two unearned runs. USF improved to 5-6 overall, with Alex Kalogrides (2-0) picking up the win after he kept the Rebels off the board over the final two innings of the game.

It was the longest game of the season for the Rebels, who played a 12-inning game against Central Michigan in the season opener, which UNLV won 6-5. Tonight's 13-inning game is also the longest game for UNLV since it played in a 15-inning game against UC Irvine on May 2, 2006, which the Rebels lost 4-3.

UNLV scored the game's first run, getting on the board in the bottom of the first on a ground out by Steve Rinaudo that scored Jesse Wight, giving the Rebels a 1-0 lead. USF answered with three runs of its own in the top of the second, with the last two coming on a two-run double by Connor Bernantz.

The Rebels put up a trio of their own runs in the bottom half of the frame to move back out in front by a run at 4-3. Anthony Morel hit a run-scoring single to start the rally, he later scored on a single by Bryan Resnick, and then he scored on a sacrifice fly to cap the inning.

The opening two innings were all that UNLV starter Matt Hutchison would last, as he left after getting six outs, turning the ball game over to Troy Watson out of the pen.

Watson would struggle, as the first four Don batters reached base, setting the stage for a three-run rally at would give them a 6-4 lead. USF would finish the inning scoring three runs on four hits, chasing Watson, who could only get two outs.

Following the first three innings of high-scoring baseball, USF starter Mitchell Bialosky and Rebel reliever Michael Goodman settled both offenses down, working three innings of scoreless baseball.

UNLV got to Bialosky again in the bottom of the seventh, when Rinaudo doubled down the right-field line with two outs and then scored on a single by Rance Roundy. That would cut the lead down to one at 6-5 and the Rebels would tie the game in the bottom of the eighth when Resnick scored on a balk by USF reliever Joe Oropeza.

Goodman was brilliant out of the pen, retiring 17 of the 19 batters he faced in 5.2 innings of work, allowing just two hits while striking out three. He turned the ball over to Moser with one out in the top of the ninth, and he got the next two outs in the frame.

Wight led off the ninth inning with a single and then moved to second on a wild pickoff attempt by Oropeza, putting the winning run in scoring position. Oropeza issued an intentional walk to Xavier Scruggs, who moved up to second on a wild pitch. The Dons went to the bullpen, bringing in Garrett Luippold who intentionally walked Steve Rinaudo to load the bases with no outs. Luippold worked out of the jam, getting two ground outs at home before striking out Braden Walker to end the inning and the threat, sending the game to extra innings.

USF scored the go ahead run in the top of the 11th, benefiting from a fielding error by Roundy on a routine single. Dane Braunecker hit a soft one-out single to right that Roundy misplayed, letting it bounce away from him, allowing Braunecker to move up to second base. The error would prove costly, as Joey Railey singled to center field, allowing Braunecker to score, giving the Dons a 7-6 lead.

Scruggs led off the Rebel half of the 11th with a double down the right field line and then Rinaudo worked the count full before drawing a walk. UNLV then sent pinch hitter Scott Berke to the plate against Matt Baugh, who induced a ground out on a bunt that got the lead runner. Walker came to the plate and hit the ball right back where it came from, lacing a single up the middle that scored Scruggs, knotting the game at seven once again.

Walker had a strong game at the plate, going 5-for-7 with an RBI on the evening, while Scruggs picked up four hits of his own, including a pair of doubles. Bernantz had three hits and four RBI for the Dons on the evening.

UNLV and USF continue their series tomorrow with at 2:00 p.m. (PT) start at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, with Corey Hales slated to take the hill for the Rebels against Matt Baugh for the Dons.