March 6, 2009
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - UNLV baseball opened up its series with Butler with a solid all-around 9-2 win, behind Rebel starter Jeff Urlaub's seven strong innings and 12 hits by the offense on Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
The Rebels, who improved to 8-3 with their fifth consecutive victory, also took advantage of three Bulldog errors in earning the victory in front of 405 fans on a chilly night. UNLV starter Jeff Urlaub (2-0) earned the win while Ryan Kruszka (0-2) was charged with the loss as Butler fell to 1-5 on the year.
Butler jumped out to an early 1-0 lead off a solo home run by Bobby Mosser over the left-field fence in the top of the second inning off of Urlaub. But that would be the end of the offensive highlights for the Bulldogs.
UNLV took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs on just one hit, taking advantage of a hit batter and a balk sandwiched around a triple to move in front 2-1. Drew Beuerlein got hit in the leg to open the inning and then came around to score on Rance Roundy's triple to the wall in right-center, knotting the game at one. Roundy then came home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Kyle Kretchmer and the Rebels took a lead they would not give up the rest of the night.
The Rebels then took advantage of a Bulldog error in the next frame to score two more runs to expand their lead to three at 4-1. J.J. Sferra scored from second on a throwing error with one out and then Scott Berke, who was the batter who reached on the miscue and had advance to second, scored on a single by Beuerlein. UNLV then added another run in the bottom of the sixth when Jarred Frierson hit a two-out double and then scored on Bryan Resnick's single, making it 5-1.
Urlaub gave up just three hits in his seven innings of work, allowing just the lone run while striking out three and not walking anyone in earning his second win of the year. Urlaub's night ended with a well-timed 6-4-3 double play with a pair of runners on and one out, keeping the Rebel lead at four heading in the final two innings.
UNLV then added to its lead with a four-run seventh, the big blow in the post-stretch rally a two-run single by Anthony Morel as the Rebels put the game out of reach. Butler scored a run in the top of the ninth to cap the scoring.
Sferra had a strong night at the plate, collecting three hits in four at-bats while scoring a run, and Frierson also had a trio of hits while Beuerlein and Roundy each notched a pair.
UNLV and Butler continue their four-game series with a doubleheader tomorrow that begins at 2:00 p.m. (PT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, with the second game set for 6:00 p.m. Fans are reminded that Sunday's game has been move up an hour and will start at 12:00 p.m.
