Feb. 28, 2009

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - UNLV senior Ryan Thornton hit for the cycle for just the eighth time in program history and the Rebels beat Saint Peter's College by scores of 9-2 and 15-7 on Saturday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, completing a four-game sweep of the Peacocks in a series that featured back-to-back doubleheaders.

Thornton went 4-for-5 in the nightcap, starting his evening off with a walk before hitting a home run in the second, tripling in the third, doubling in the seventh and then hitting a single in the eighth to complete the cycle. It was the first cycle by a Rebel since Tony DeMarco did it against Fresno State on May 16, 1999 and Thornton is just the sixth player overall to achieve the feat.

"I was seeing the ball and putting good swings on," Thornton said. "The team played great and we have had people step up in the lineup all weekend and I did it tonight."

The Rebels improved to 7-3 on the season with the two victories and have now won four games in a row in just a two-day span, with all the victories coming against the visiting Peacocks, who dropped to 1-7.

"It is tough to win four games in a row and the team showed a lot of character because I don't think we necessarily played our best baseball," UNLV head coach Buddy Gouldsmith said. "We made too many mistakes on the base paths, but we got some practice time this week before Butler comes in to correct that. Overall this weekend, a lot of guys got opportunities to make contributions and they did."

Runs came in pairs for the Rebels in the first game of the day's doubleheader, as they scored two runs in an inning four times in cruising to the win. Justin Aldridge doubled in two runs in the bottom of the first and the lead would grow to 4-0 in the fourth on an RBI single off the bat of Drew Beuerlein and then a run-scoring balk.

SPC cut into the lead with two runs of its own in the top of the fifth, but that would be as close as it would get on the day. UNLV scored twice in the sixth, once in the seventh and then two more times in the eighth to go on to the seven-run victory.

Rebel starter Tanner Peters earned the win, the first of his collegiate career, working five innings and giving up two runs on four hits, striking out three and walking two. Chad Nading and David Bumstead came out of the bullpen and combined for four scoreless innings of relief. Peacock starter Craig Hughes took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits while walking six and striking out two.

It was a high-scoring game in the night-cap, with the two teams combining for 22 runs on 23 hits in a game the Rebels would win to complete the four-game sweep of the Peacocks, thanks in large part to the big night from Thornton.

SPC jumped on UNLV starter Stephen Singer for three runs in the first inning to open the game, but the Rebels chipped away, scoring two in the bottom of the frame and then another in the second on a solo home run by Thornton. It was the start of a big night for Thornton, who went 4-for-5 with 5 RBI and three runs scored, all career highs for the senior from Vallejo, Calif.

Saint Peter's moved ahead 4-3 in the third but that would be its last lead of the series as the Rebels plated four runs in the bottom of the third for a 7-3 lead they would not relinquish. Anthony Morel doubled in two runs to start the rally that also had a sacrifice fly and then an RBI triple by Thornton.

UNLV added two runs in the sixth on RBI singles by J.J. Sferra and an RBI ground out by Kyle Kretchmer before exploding for four runs in the seventh inning to put the game away. In the seventh Thornton hit a double to center field that scored two, leaving him just a single short of the cycle, which he would pick up the next inning on a soft dribbler up the third-base line for an infield single.

Rebel reliever Kyle Conroy earned the win in relief, the first decision of the year for the left-hander, while Dom Macaluso took the loss for the Peacocks, dropping him to 1-2 on the season.

UNLV remains at home and will wrap up its season-opening 14-game homestand by welcoming in Butler for a four-game series that begins Friday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.