May 6, 2011
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Behind a stellar effort from starting pitcher Tanner Peters, the UNLV baseball team took the series-opening game from Washington State, 4-1, here tonight at Bailey-Brayton Field.
Peters (8-3) allowed just four hits and one run, unearned while striking out four in his second straight complete game effort. Peters has totaled six complete games in 12 starts so far this season.
UNLV (29-18, 7-10 Mountain West) took an early 1-0 lead in the first following Brandon Bayardi's sacrifice fly to center that scored Trevor Kirk. Peters was nearly unhittable through the first six innings, retiring the side in order in the first before giving up a leadoff single in the second.
Peters went on to retire seven consecutive batters before issuing a two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth, marking just the second base runner for Washington State.
Kirk led off the Rebel sixth with a single to left and moved to second on a Scott Dysinger sacrifice bunt. Trent Cook reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on first and second before Bayardi was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After Rance Roundy flied out to right, Ryan Scott's infield single coupled with a throwing error by Cody Bartlett led to two runs scoring, making it a 3-0 game. Bayardi would make it 4-0 one batter later, scoring on an Adam Conley wild pitch.
Following scoreless seventh, Washington State took advantage of a rare error by Peters to cut the lead to 4-1. Collin Slaybaugh walked to start the inning and was safe at second following a wide throw by Peters on a grounder by Tommy Richards. Adam Nelubowich's groundout to second moved the runners to second and third before Cody Bartlett's sacrifice fly to right scored Slaybaugh.
The Rebels were retired in order in the ninth before Peters came back in the ninth to shut the door on the Cougars. After getting Derek Jones to fly out to center, Taylor Ard singled up the middle to give WSU a runner on with one out, but Peters was able to induce the 4-6-3 double play to end the game.
The Rebels and Cougars will be back in action tomorrow with first pitch set for 5:30 p.m. at Bailey-Brayton Field.
