March 9, 2008
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - Leading by three runs heading into the top of the ninth, UNLV baseball gave up six runs to San Francisco in a stunning 11-8 loss on Sunday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
With closer Marc Baca on the mound, the Dons sent 11 batters to the plate to come from behind and earn the win, scoring the runs on six singles, an error and an intentional walk. USF started the inning down 8-5 but escaped with a victory, shocking most of the 433 fans in attendance on a sunny afternoon.
With the loss the Rebels fell to 6-7 on the year with Baca taking the loss, his first decision and his first blown save of 2008. USF improved to 6-7 and Garrett Liuppold was the benefactor of the wild ninth inning, earning the win, his first decision of the season.
UNLV had jumped out to an 8-4 lead after seven innings, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh to regain the lead after entering the frame down two runs.
After the Rebels put a run on the board in the bottom of the second on a RBI single by Anthony Morel, the Dons responded in the top of the fourth inning.
UNLV starter Steve Rinaudo was sailing along and had struck out the first two outs of the inning before running into trouble. He gave up a pair of singles and then walked a batter to load the bases and USF head coach Nino Giarratano brought in Kyle Morgan to pinch hit. The move paid off with Morgan hitting a 1-2 pitch over the right-field fence for a grand slam and a 4-1 Don lead.
The lead was cut in half in the bottom half of the fourth with Morel collecting his second RBI single of the game, driving in Michael Brenly, who had hit a one-out double.
Xavier Scruggs then tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, hitting his team-leading fifth home run of the season, a two run shot to left field that knotted the game at four. Scruggs went 3-for-5 on the afternoon with two RBI and two runs scored, continuing his sizzling start to the 2008 campaign, as the junior first baseman is hitting .526 with 16 RBI through the first 13 games of the season.
UNLV wraps up its current four-game home series against Southern Utah on Tuesday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, with the first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. (PT).
