April 10, 2011
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team fell behind early, but battled back to rally with two big innings to come from behind and capture a 10-9, series-clinching win over Sacred Heart University here today at Wilson Stadium.
Jesse Garcia (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after throwing 2.1 innings of relief, scattering three hits and giving up just one run while striking out two. Six Rebels combined for all 13 hits, led by Trent Cook and Brandon Bayardi who each had three on the afternoon.
Sacred Heart (13-17) took a 2-0 lead after the top of the first on an RBI single by J.J. Edwards and an RBI fielder's choice from John Murphy. The Rebels (22-12) cut the lead in half in the bottom of the opening inning following Bayardi's RBI single through the left side.
The Pioneers five-run fifth extended their lead to 7-1 and forced the Rebels to turn to the pen early. Starter Tyler Iodence lasted just two innings on the day, giving up four hits and six runs while walking three batters in the no decision.
After a scoreless fourth, Max Javate worked a quick fifth inning before the Rebel offense came to life. Danny Higa reached on a throwing error by third baseman M.J. Schifano, advancing to second on the errant throw before making his way to third on a balk. Trevor Kirk walked to put runners on the corners before a string of three straight RBI hits by Scott Dysinger, Cook and Bayardi drove in four runs for the Rebels, cutting the deficit to 7-5.
SHU got one back in the sixth when Schifano scored on a Phillips hit to short that resulted in a throwing error by Higa, pushing the lead to 8-5.
Garcia worked a three-up, three-down eighth before Rance Roundy started the bottom half of the inning off with a solo homer to left to bring the score to 8-6. Scott Berke reached on an error while Travis Feiner singled to put runners on first and second. Another Pioneer balk pushed the runners to second and third before Dysinger's two-out single through the right side knotted the game at 8-8. With runners on the corners, Schifano was called for his second balk of the inning, allowing the go-ahead run in Kirk to score.
Following Schifano's ejection for arguing the balk call, Cook singled in Dysinger to give UNLV a two-run lead at 10-8 heading into the top of the ninth.
Garcia got the first out of the inning before allowing the next two batters to reach. Dan Perez's two-out RBI single to right brought the score to 10-9 before Derick Horn's grounder to short was fielded by Higa who got the force at second to end the game and secure the series win.
UNLV will hit the road Tuesday, April 12, traveling to Riverside, Calif., for a single game against UC Riverside. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. in the Golden State.
