May 2, 2008
Final Stats
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - UNLV baseball fell behind by five runs early, rallied in the middle of the game to get within three, but ultimately lost 13-7 to Cal Poly in the opening of a non-conference series Friday night Baggett Stadium.
UNLV dropped to 19-26 overall on the year while Cal Poly improved to 20-23 overall on the season. Rebel starter Corey Hales (4-3) took the loss, as he did not get an out in the opening frame, giving up five runs on three hits before leaving the game. Cal Poly starter Eric Massingham (2-4) benefited from the run support, as he earned the win despite giving up all seven UNLV runs in 5.1 innings of work. Brian Grening worked the final 3.2 innings to collect the save.
Trailing 8-2 heading into the fifth inning, the Rebels plated three runs to pull within three, 8-5, chasing Massingham in the process. Bryan Resnick and J.J. Sferra singled to start the inning, and Scotty Berke hit an RBI ground out that scored Resnick for the first run of the frame. Rebel slugger Xavier Scruggs then drilled his team-leading 17th home run of the year to left center and bringing his squad within striking distance.
Cal Poly though answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth, its second five-inning of the night, making it a 13-5 game and sealing up the win. A pair of two-run doubles off of Rebel reliever Jon Birds were the big blows in the inning for the Mustangs.
UNLV would score two runs in the sixth on a solo home run by Ryan Thornton and an RBI double by Sferra, but those would be the last runs of the game by either side.
The tone of the game was set in the opening frame though, as Cal Poly rattled Hales on three hits, two walks and an error. The Mustangs loaded the bases on a double sandwiched by a pair of walks, and Wes Dorrell cleared them with a double. A throwing error put runners on the corners and then Hales gave up a run-scoring single to Adam Melker that brought a close to Hales' evening.
Scruggs finished the game with a pair of hits and three RBI while Berke also drove in three runs and UNLV finished the game with 10 hits as a team. Cal Poly collected 12 hits and was paced at the plate by Dorrell, who drove in six runs and scored three times in going 3-for-4.
UNLV and Cal Poly continue their series, with the second game of their series set for Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. (PDT).
