May 2, 2009
Final Stats
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - UNLV senior Ryan Thornton hit a two-run single with two outs in the top of the ninth to give the Rebels a dramatic 8-6 win over New Mexico on Saturday afternoon at Isotopes Park.
Thornton hit the first pitch of the at-bat back up the middle, scoring Chad Claus and J.J. Sferra, and then the Rebel defense turned a 5-4-3 double play to end the game in the bottom half of the inning. UNLV improved to 24-23 overall and 8-9 in Mountain West Conference play, with Corey Hales (3-2) earning the win and Marc Baca pitching a scoreless ninth to record his third save.
After the Lobos scored a run in the first inning, the Rebels put a crooked number on the board, scoring five runs in the top of the second inning to jump out to a four-run lead.
UNLV loaded the bases with no outs and then the first run of the rally scored on an error and keeping the bases full for Joe DiMaggio, who lifted a fly ball to left field for a sacrifice fly that made it 2-1. Kyle Kretchmer scored from third on a passed ball for the third run of the inning, Jarred Frierson singled in another run and then Bryan Resnick stole home on a delayed steal to cap the outburst.
From there the Lobos slowly chipped away at the lead, getting two runs in the third, a run in the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the game at five, setting up a tense final two innings of play.
The Rebels moved back out in front in the top of the eighth on a two-out single by Kretchmer, which drove home Thornton, who had walked to open the frame and moved to third on a pair of ground outs. UNM answered in its half of the frame, when Brian Cavazos-Galvez was hit by a pitch to start the inning, moved to third on a single and then scored on a sacrifice bunt.
In the last inning UNLV quickly put two men on base when Claus drew a walk and Sferra was hit by a pitch, but Cole White struck out Bryan Resnick and then got a ground out. Thornton would come through in the clutch, and after Baca worked around a one-out walk in the ninth, the Rebels had their first road win in conference play.
New Mexico fell to 32-15 overall and 12-7 in MWC games, with White (3-1) taking the loss.
UNLV needed just eight hits to score its eight runs, and Frierson and Kretchmer each collected a pair for the Rebels, who did not commit an error. UNM had 12 hits on the afternoon, as five different Lobos each had two hits in the game.
UNLV and New Mexico wrap up their three-game series tomorrow, with the first pitch set for 11:00 a.m. (PT) and the teams will be playing at Lobo Field on the campus of UNM due to a conflict at Isotopes Park.
