May 3, 2008
Final Stats
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Three unearned runs but some distance between UNLV and Cal Poly, and the Rebels dropped a non-conference game to the Mustangs, 5-1, on Saturday night at Baggett Stadium.
Locked in a one-run game heading into the bottom of the seventh, UNLV starter Thomas Whitsett gave up a single to open the frame but got the next two batters to fly out. He then got a ground ball back to the mound, but Whitsett's throw was wild, keeping the inning alive, and then he walked the next batter, loading the bases. Michael Goodman came out of the Rebel bullpen, but the lefty gave up a bases-clearing double to Logan Schafer, giving Cal Poly a 5-1 lead.
UNLV dropped to 19-27 overall on the year and has now lost a season-high five games in a row, all on the road, with Whitsett (2-4) taking the loss. Cal Poly improved to 21-23, with Jared Eskew (4-2) earning the win and DJ Mauldin picking up the save, his fourth of the year.
The Rebels loaded the bases in the top of the eighth inning off of Mauldin, bringing Rebel DH Ryan Thornton to the plate with a chance to cut into the lead. Thronton fouled out to first base, ending UNLV's threat.
UNLV scored the game's first run in the third inning, when J.J. Sferra singled with one out, stole second and then scored on Scotty Berke's double down the left-field line for a 1-0 lead. Eskew intentionally walked Xavier Scruggs and then struck out Braden Walker and got Michael Brenly to line out to get out of the inning.
Mustang pitchers were very careful in pitching to Scruggs, who was hit by a pitch and walked twice in four plate appearances. He popped out in the eighth in his only official at-bat of the game.
Cal Poly answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third when Brent Morel hit a two-out double with two on off of Whitsett, giving the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.
Both starting pitchers were effective, as Whitsett gave up just two earned runs, five total, on five hits in 6.2 innings of work while Eskew gave up the one run on five hits in 5.1 innings on the mound. UNLV finished the game with five hits while Cal Poly scratched out just six of its own on the evening.
UNLV and Cal Poly end their series tomorrow, with the first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. (PT) at Baggett Stadium, which brings a close to the Rebels' season-long nine-game road trip.
