May 17, 2011
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team rallied to tie its game against UC Riverside in the bottom of the eighth, only to give up the winning run in the top of the ninth, resulting in a 10-9 loss to the Highlanders here at Wilson Stadium tonight.
The Rebels (32-21, 9-11 Mountain West) were led by Brandon Bayardi and Ryan Scott who each collected three hits on the night with Bayardi notching three RBI. Zach Hartman (4-2) suffered his second loss in the last four days, giving up three hits and one run in one inning pitched.
UNLV starter Brady Zuniga made his first appearance since April 12th when he was struck by a line drive to the head at UC Riverside, resulting in a gash above his eyebrow and three broken bones. Zuniga scattered three hits over four innings, giving up just one run while walking one and striking out three.
The Rebels raced out to a 6-1 lead after four innings of play thanks to a five-run fourth. Four straight RBI singles followed by a balk by Dustin Emmons allowed Cash Thomas to score from third and put the Rebels ahead.
UC Riverside (26-20) chipped away at the Rebel lead with a run in the fifth before pulling within one at 6-5 following a three-run sixth.
UNLV responded with two runs in the bottom half of the sixth on Bayardi's two-run double to left center, extending the lead to 8-5.
The Highlanders took their first lead of the game in the seventh, platting four runs on five hits. Phil Holinsworth and Ryan Goetz each drove in a run before Tony Nix's two-run double put them ahead 9-8.
Bayardi's two-out, RBI single in the bottom of the eighth tied the game at 9-9 heading to the top of the final frame.
Hartman entered in the ninth and recorded the first two outs before yielding back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second. David Andriese's grounder to the right side was knocked down by Scott Dysinger, but no play could be made as the go-ahead run scored.
Richie Jimenez drew a two-out walk, representing the tying run in the bottom of the ninth, but Matt Wolford was able to get Scott Berke to fly out to center to end the game.
UNLV will be back in action this week, hosting San Diego State in the regular-season finale starting Thursday night. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. at Wilson Stadium between the Rebels and Aztecs.
