Feb. 25, 2009
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - UNLV came out on the short end of a high-scoring game with Arizona on Wednesday afternoon, as the Rebels lost 16-12 on a windy day at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in a game that featured 26 hits between the two clubs.
The Rebels, who have now lost three straight to drop to 3-3 overall on the season, fell behind 14-1 but battled back to get within striking distance before ultimately coming up short. UNLV right-hander Corey Hales, who was making his first start of the year, took the loss, giving up eight runs on seven hits in three innings of work. Arizona moved to 4-1 with the win and for the second straight game Matt Chaffee (2-0) came on in relief and picked up the victory, working two innings and giving one run on two hits.
Arizona scored five runs in the first inning and the onslaught continued through the first five innings, culminating with a four-run fifth to jump out to the big lead but after that, the Rebels started chipping away at the deficit.
In the bottom of the fifth the Rebels put five runs on the board, using five hits with the big blows a two-run triple by J.J. Sferra and an RBI double off the bat of Scott Berke to breathe some life into the dugout.
Following a scoreless sixth inning, the first frame to that point where a team did not score a run, Arizona tacked on a run in the top half before the Rebels exploded for six of their own in the bottom.
The inning started with two ground outs but from there UNLV mounted a rally to pull within three at 15-12, as the Rebels took advantage of a Wildcat error that kept the inning alive. Drew Beuerlein singled and Rance Roundy walked in front of a double by Ryan Thornton that drove both runners home. A walk and an error allowed Thornton to score and then freshman third baseman Trent Fuller followed with his first career home run, a three-run shot to left.
That would be as close as UNLV would get as Arizona added an insurance run in the top of the ninth and Jason Stoffell worked 1.1 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the save, his second of the year.
UNLV finished the game with 12 hits and had five players in the lineup collect two hits each, paced by Sferra, who had two triples, and Fuller, who added a single to go with his home run. Arizona touched up Rebel pitching for 14 hits, seven of which went for extra bases.
UNLV continues its 14-game homestand to open the 2009 season by hosting St. Peter's College and the two teams will play a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
