May 7, 2011

Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. (UNLVRebels.com) - Despite a late-inning two-run homer by Travis Feiner that cut the lead to 4-3, the UNLV baseball team could not overcome an early 3-0 deficit, falling 4-3 to Washington State in second game of its weekend series at Bailey-Brayton Field.

Joe Robinson (5-5) was charged with the loss, giving up eight hits and four runs in five innings of work. Trevor Kirk and Ryan Scott each had two hits on the night to lead the Rebel offense.

Washington State (20-21) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the bottom of the second. Nate Blackham's RBI single to right scored Adam Nelubowich before Trace Tam Sing's two-run double to left field cleared the bases and extended the lead to 3-0.

The Cougars platted another run in the bottom of the fourth, with a sacrifice fly by Tam Sing, making it a 4-0 ballgame after four complete innings.

UNLV (29-19) cut the deficit to three at 4-1 in the top of the fifth when Scott Berke scored on Kirk's infield single to third base.

After Robinson worked a three-up, three-down fifth, the Rebels threatened in the top half of the sixth after back-to-back singles by Brandon Bayardi and Scott. Following Travis Feiner's strikeout, Berke reached first on a throwing error by Cougar third baseman Matt Argyropoulos, but Bayardi was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

Nelubowich led the sixth off with an infield single, forcing UNLV to turn to the pen, bringing in lefty Jesse Garcia. Garcia hit Collin Slaybaugh to put runners on first and second before Blackham advanced the runners on a 5-3 sacrifice bunt. Garcia worked his way out of the jam after Nelubowich was thrown out at home on a Tam Sing grounder and Bartlett flew out to left.

Feiner closed the gap to one at 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth with his two-out, two-run homer to right-center field, marking his fourth of the season and forcing the Cougars to turn to the pen. J.D. Leckenby came on in relief and got Berke to groundout to short to end the inning for UNLV.

Garcia gave up his first hit of the night, a double in the bottom of the eighth, but was able to work around it and get out of the inning with no real threat, giving the Rebels one last chance in the top of the ninth.

Cash Thomas flew out to right to start the ninth while Richie Jimenez and Kirk both went down swinging to end the game as Paris Shewey picked up his ninth save of the season.

The Rebels and Cougars will wrap up action tomorrow with the rubber match set for a noon start time at Bailey-Brayton Fied.