April 10, 2009
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - UNLV baseball rallied and took a one-run lead into the eighth inning, but No. 18 San Diego State scored three runs in the top of the frame and went on to an 8-6 win on Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
The Rebels, who had trailed at one point by four runs, scored four times in the bottom of the sixth to grab a 6-5 lead, but the bullpen could not make it stand as the team dropped to 15-18 overall and 4-7 in Mountain West Conference games. UNLV reliever Chad Nading (1-1) came out of the bullpen and gave up three runs in the eighth inning on one hit, wasting a solid effort on the mound by starter Tanner Peters.
SDSU improved to 25-11 overall and 8-3 in league games, with James McLaughlin (2-0) earning the win and Addison Reed tossing a scoreless ninth to pick up his 12th save of the year.
Early on it was all SDSU as after UNLV scored a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Ryan Thornton, the Aztecs scored the next five runs of the game to move ahead 5-1. San Diego State got a pair of runs in the top of the second on a home run by Josh Chasse, and then the Aztecs scored three unearned runs in the top of the fourth.
In the bottom of the fourth Brian Gilbertson singled in Rance Roundy, who had doubled off of SDSU starter Jon Berger, and after a scoreless fifth inning, the Rebels exploded in the bottom of the sixth.
The Rebels batted around in the game-changing frame, scoring four runs on five hits to turn a three-run deficit into a 6-5 lead, with the big blow in the rally a two-run double by Anthony Morel to the right-field corner. Gilbertson and Chad Claus also had RBI singles in the inning that gave the Rebels their first lead of the series.
UNLV was able to move out in front with its big sixth inning thanks in large part to the strong pitching of Peters, who worked seven strong innings.
Although the Rebels fell behind early, Peters kept the margin manageable despite having three errors behind him that allowed a trio of unearned runs to score. The rookie right-hander struck out eight batters, walked just one and gave up eight hits and was rewarded by leaving with a 6-5 lead heading into the final two innings.
Nading came in to start the eighth inning and SDSU loaded the bases on wild pitch strikeout, a single to left field and then a four-pitch walk, bringing Aztec leadoff hitter Pat Colwell to the plate. Colwell didn't need to take the bat off of his shoulder, as Nading threw a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score, and then Colwell drew a four-pitch walk to reload the bases.
UNLV head coach Buddy Gouldsmith went back to the bullpen, bringing in Marc Baca who got a double play that allowed a run to score and a 7-6 Aztec lead, but then Baca uncorked a wild pitch that allowed another run to cross the plate, making it 8-6.
J.J. Sferra went to the small ball in extending his hitting streak to 24 games, pushing a bunt down the first-base line in the bottom of the fifth inning and beating it out for a single. The 24-game streak is the third-longest in UNLV history and Sferra finished the game going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
UNLV and San Diego State wrap up their series with an afternoon game on Saturday, with the first pitch between the Rebels and Aztecs set for 2:00 p.m. (PT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Andrew Beresford is slated to get the start for UNLV while Tyler Lavigne is scheduled to start for SDSU, and fans can listen to the game live on KSHP 1400 AM.
