March 30, 2014
Final Stats
LINCOLN, Neb. (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV baseball (19-8/9-3 Mountain West), which is ranked No. 25 by Perfect Game, dropped the series finale to Nebraska (15-12) 5-3 on Sunday at Haymarket Park.
The Rebels opened the scoring in the top of the second inning when Erik VanMeetren scored on a Dylan Ellis sacrifice fly.
Nebraska tied the game in the home half of the inning, but UNLV recaptured the lead after Patrick Armstrong hit a solo home run in the top of the third. It was Armstrong's third homer of the season, and his second in six days.
The Rebels extended their lead to 3-1 when Matt McCallister doubled to left-center field, driving in Edgar Montes from first.
The Huskers cut at the lead, scoring one in the fifth and then took the lead by scoring two in the sixth. Nebraska also added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.
UNLV had a chance in the top of the ninth when Matt McCallister and Joey Swanner recorded back-to-back singles and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, but the Huskers recorded two strikeouts to end the Rebel threat and close out the game.
Sophomore Bryan Bonnell (3-2) allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on eight hits in 6.1 innings of work. He was saddled with the loss, but picked up his seventh quality start of the year. Junior Joey Lauria allowed one run on three hits in 1.2 innings of relief.
From the plate, UNLV was led by McCallister, who finished the game 3-for-4 with an RBI. Swanner (2-for-5), T.J. White (2-for-5), Pat Armstrong (2-for-4) and Joey Armstrong (2-for-4) all finished with multiple his in the game.
The Rebels will be back in action on Monday as they will play Creighton at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha, which is where the College World Series is played in June. The game was originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, but to avoid weather complications, the first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. CT/2:00 p.m. PT. Fans and Las Vegas can watch the action on GoCreighton.com (PPV).
