March 13, 2011
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team needed another late-inning rally, pulling through to force extra innings and eventually grab a 6-5 win over Valparaiso University, completing the series sweep at home here today at Wilson Stadium.
Max Javate (2-1) picked up his second win of the weekend after coming in to pitch the 11th inning, allowing just one hit while striking out two batters. The Rebels (16-3) bullpen proved key today as Jesse Garcia, Zack Hartman and Javate combined to yield just five hits and no runs over 7.1 innings of work.
Trevor Kirk's RBI single scored Hunter Beaty while Rance Roundy's sacrifice fly brought in Kirk to make it 2-0 in favor of the home team after the first.
Valparaiso (1-14) took advantage of two costly Rebel errors in the top of the third to the tune of three runs, going ahead 3-2. The Crusaders pushed the lead to 5-2 the following sacrifice flies from Kyle Gaedale and Ryan O'Gara.
The UNLV offense mustered only four hits following its first-inning burst, but awoke in the seventh. After Kirk grounded out to first base, Trent Cook doubled to right center and Roundy jacked his sixth home run of the season to left, cutting the deficit to one at 5-4.
The longball proved vital for the Rebels again an inning later when Danny Higa hit his second homer of the season, a solo shot to left, knotting the game at 5-5.
Garcia gave up a leadoff double in the Valpo ninth, but was able to work his way out of the jam. Garcia threw 4.1 innings, making his second appearance out of the pen and allowed just two hits while striking out one along the way.
Hartman entered in the ninth inning and was his usual lights out, throwing two complete innings, yielding just two hits and never getting into trouble.
Higa led the Rebel 11th, advancing to second on a throwing error by shortstop Bobby Martin. Higa made his way to third following a Ryan Scott sacrifice fly to center field and scored one batter later on Beaty's sacrifice fly to left, giving UNLV its fifth straight win and second series sweep of the year.
The Rebels will be back in action this week, hitting to the road for a single game on Tuesday, March 15 at Cal State Northride. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. in Northridge, Calif.
