April 28, 2009

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - UNLV baseball got going after the stretch, scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh to rally for a 13-8 win over Cal State Northridge in a non-conference tilt at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

Trailing by a run after the seventh inning stretch, the Rebels loaded the bases with a walk and two singles and following a pop out, Kyle Kretchmer came to the plate and stroked a single to center. Two runs would come around to score on the base knock and UNLV loaded them up again on another walk, and Chad Claus put down a bunt that scored a run and the J.J. Sferra capped the rally with a two-run single.

That rally turned the deficit into a 12-8 lead for UNLV in a back-and-forth game that had five lead changes through the seven innings. Ryan Thornton added a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth as the Rebels improved to 23-21 overall, winning its third consecutive game in the process. CSUN dropped to 17-26 on the season

UNLV struck first in the high-scoring affair, as Sferra led off the bottom of the first inning with a triple to the gap in left center, and after Bryan Resnick drew a walk, Jared Frierson hit a home run over the right-field fence. It was the fourth of the year for the UNLV third baseman and it gave his team a 3-0 lead.

Cal State Northridge quickly tied the game in the top of the second inning, scoring three runs on three hits off of UNLV starter Corey Hales, with the big blow a two-run single off the bat of Brian Slover. The Matadors then moved out in front, getting a run in the top of the third on a run-scoring single and then two more in the fourth for a 6-3 lead.

The Rebels chipped away the lead, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the frame on an RBI triple by Rance Roundy, who then came home to score on a single by Anthony Morel, making it 6-5. In the bottom of the fifth Thornton doubled home a run and then he scored on a single by Jesse Wight, giving UNLV a 7-6 lead. Following a scoreless sixth, the Matadors pushed two runs across the plate in the top of the seventh and a two-run home run by Chris Hannick, but the Rebels would rally in the bottom of the frame.

Michael Goodman (2-1) came out of the UNLV bullpen and worked three innings of relief to pick up the win, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out a pair and walking none. Jimmy Jolicoeur (2-4) took the loss, as he was charged with two runs during the Rebels' rally in the seventh inning.

Four different Rebels had three hits in the game as part of a 16-hit attack, and the biggest night belonged to Thornton, who drove in two runs and also scored three times. Frierson added three runs to go along with his three-run home run and Wight had three hits and scored twice.

UNLV and Cal State Northridge cap their midweek series tomorrow with the first pitch from Earl E. Wilson slated for 1:00 p.m. (PT).