April 9, 2011

Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - After losing three straight the UNLV baseball team got back on track today, sweeping a doubleheader from Sacred Heart University, 9-2 and 8-6 here at Wilson Stadium.

Sophomore Brandon Bayardi went 4-for-7 with six RBI and a pair of crucial three-run home runs to lead the Rebel offense on the day. Joe Robinson (4-3) went the distance for his first complete game of the season, scattering seven hits and two runs in the 9-2 game one win. Zack Hartman (3-0) picked up his third win of the year after going 1.2 innings in relief in game two.

UNLV (21-12, 2-6 Mountain West) scored nine runs over a four-inning span in game one, pounding out 10 hits against Sacred Heart starter John Hermanson over the first five innings. A four-run third featured RBI singles from Scott Dysinger, Trent Cook, Ryan Scott and Casey Sato.

Cook's second RBI single in the fourth increased the lead to 5-2 while Cash Thomas's RBI base knock in the fifth pushed it to 6-2. Bayardi's three-run homer to left capped the scoring in the sixth, giving Robinson all the support he would need to pick up his fourth win of the year and first since March 12 against Valparaiso.

After falling behind 4-1 after through innings in game two, the UNLV offense went to work in the bottom of the fifth, platting four runs on three hits. Danny Higa doubled to right and scored on Cook's third RBI single of the day before Bayardi went yard again with a screaming shot over the wall in left-center field, giving the Rebels their first lead of the day at 5-4.

SHU (13-16) scored a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to regain the lead at 6-5. Back-to-back RBI singles by John Murphy and Conor McEvoy sparked the late-game rally for the Pioneers.

UNLV answered right back in the bottom half, scoring all three runs with two outs to go ahead 8-6. Sato singled to lead off the inning before Travis Feiner flied out to center and Remington Pullin popped out to first. Higa then tripled to left center, driving in Sato to tie the game at 6-6. Trevor Kirk's RBI double scored the go-ahead run before Scott Dysinger singled up the middle to give the Rebels a two-run lead heading into the final inning.

SHU threatened in the top half of the seventh, leading off with back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with no outs, but Hartman was able to work his way out of the jam, retiring the next three batters with a little defensive help along the way. Sato made a spectacular sliding catch that saved at least one run from scoring and kept both runners from advancing.

The two teams will wrap up action tomorrow with first pitch slated for 1:05 p.m. here at Wilson Stadium.