April 5, 2008
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - UNLV baseball had a four-run lead after four innings but its bullpen struggled in the middle innings in a 21-9 loss to BYU in the series finale at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars scored six runs in the sixth and then eight runs in the seventh to turn a deficit into a commanding lead against the Rebels, who never recovered.
With the loss the Rebels dropped to 13-15 overall and 5-4 in Mountain West Conference games while the Cougars moved to 14-17 overall and 5-4 in league action as well. UNLV reliever Steve Rinaudo (0-4) took the loss, giving up three runs on three hits in the six-run inning that gave BYU the lead for good. BYU starter Blake Torgerson was the beneficiary of the run support, earning the win despite giving up nine runs on 12 hits in five-plus innings of work. Nelson Castleberry came into the game when it was a two-run affair and then worked the final four innings for the save.
The Rebels had 16 hits on the afternoon while the Cougars had 24, including six home runs.
UNLV got off to a fast start, scoring three runs in the first and another trio in the fourth, jumping out to a 6-2 lead against the visiting Cougars.
Xavier Scruggs singled home J.J. Sferra for the game's first run, and then Scruggs would cross the plate on Braden Walker's two-run home run to center field. It was the second round tripper of the season for Walker, which gave the Rebels a 3-0 lead.
Following solo home runs for BYU by Brandon Relf in the third and Bryce Ayoso in the fourth, the Rebels answered with three more runs in the bottom half of the fourth.
With two outs and two runners on, Scruggs hit a two-run single that moved the lead to 5-2, and then the Rebels would load the bases off of Torgerson, bringing Walker to the plate. The senior drew a walk, moving everyone up 90 feet and giving UNLV a 6-2 lead.
The next two innings belonged to BYU, which scored three in the fifth and then put a six-spot on the board in the sixth to grab an 11-6 lead.
C.J. Leach led off the sixth with a solo home run to center field and then the Cougars scored two more times on RBI singles, cutting the lead to just one at 6-5. They then blew the game wide open, sending 10 batters to the plate in the sixth, scoring six runs on five hits. UNLV used three pitchers in the inning and the big hit was a three-run home run by Steve Parker that capped the frame.
Scruggs pulled the Rebels to within two, drilling a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth that made it an 11-9 ball game. It was Scruggs' team-leading eighth round tripper of the season, and it gave him five RBI on the game.
From there though BYU would put the game out of reach, scoring eight runs in the top of the seventh before an out was recorded, as the first eight Cougars batters hit safely, including a pair of home runs. Resnick would hit his third home run of the season, a three-run shot to left field with two out in the bottom of the ninth.
UNLV will now embark on a road trip through Texas, traveling to play two games at Stephen F. Austin beginning Tuesday, followed by a three-game series at TCU that starts on Friday.
