Feb. 22, 2014
Final Stats
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UNLVRebels.com) - No. 29 UNLV baseball (4-2) lost its second straight game on Saturday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, falling 5-4 to Tennessee (6-0).
The Rebels opened the game with a leadoff triple by Joey Armstrong. He would score two batters later when T.J. White hit a single to center field, which gave UNLV a 1-0 lead. The Volunteers countered in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on two hits.
In the third inning, the Rebels tied the game when Tennessee starting pitcher Kyle Serrano hit Craig Shul with the bases loaded, which scored Armstrong from third.
The Volunteers retook the lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth and pitcher Andy Cox held UNLV at bay, allowing no runs or hits while walking three and striking out five in 5.1 innings of relief.
Tennessee closer Drake Owenby (1-0, 3 saves) earned the win after blowing the save in the top of the ninth. He came in for one inning and allowed two runs on four hits and recorded one strikeout.
The biggest hit of the day for the Rebels came when Erik VanMeetren hit a two-out single to left field in the ninth inning, scoring Edgar Montes and Joey Armstrong to tie the game at four.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, UNLV recorded an error and the Volunteer's Johnny Youngblood scored to win the game.
From the mound, John Richy (1-0) allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on five hits while striking out two and walking three in 7.0 innings of work. Kenny Oakley (0-1) took the loss after allowing one unearned run on no hits in 1.2 innings of relief.
Joey Armstrong led the Rebel attack from the plate, as he went 2-for-3 with a triple and he scored three runs. White also had multiple hits, finishing the game 2-for-2, but left in the fourth inning due to injury. VanMeetren made two plate appearances and finished 1-for-1 with two RBI and a walk.
UNLV and Tennessee will wrap up its series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT. Fans can either watch the action on UTSports.com or can listen live on the radio at 920 The Game.
