March 8, 2014
Final Stats
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV baseball (10-3, 5-0 Mountain West) clinched the weekend series win with a 3-2 victory over New Mexico (8-6-1, 0-2 MW) on Saturday.
The Rebels had to hold off a Lobo threat in the ninth inning to get the win. New Mexico opened the bottom of the ninth with a ground out and a line out, but they got the tying run aboard when Dan Collier reached on a UNLV error. Collier moved from first to third on the next at bat when Chase Harris singled to right field.
UNLV reliever Kenny Oakley (2) settled in and struck out UNM's Jack Zoellner on three straight pitches to earn the save and preserve the Rebel win. Oakley allowed one hit and struck out three while walking one in 2.0 innings of work.
The UNLV victory hands New Mexico its first home series loss at Lobo Field since permanently moving back from Isotopes Park last season.
UNM opened the game by scoring one run in the bottom of the second inning. The Rebels took the lead in the next frame after Dylan Ellis scored when Matt McCallister hit a double to right center. McCallister would also score after Justin Jones singled through the right side.
The Lobos would tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, but UNLV recaptured the lead in the top of the eighth when T.J. White scored after Morgan Stotts reached on a UNM error with two outs.
For the second consecutive day, it was a pitchers' duel as neither starter allowed more than two earned runs in the game. John Richy (3-0) earned the win for UNLV after allowing two runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out four in 7.0 innings of work. It was the fourth consecutive quality start for Richy. New Mexico's Colton Thomson (1-2) went 7.0 innings and allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on 10 hits while striking out two.
Joey Armstrong (2-for-5), Patrick Armstrong (2-for-4), Dylan Ellis (2-for-4) and Matt McCallister (2-for-4) each recorded multiple hits in the game to lead the Rebels from the plate.
UNLV will go for the sweep over New Mexico on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. MT/12:00 p.m. PT. Fans can watch the action live on UNLVRebels.com thanks to the Mountain West Network.
