April 8, 2000
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State baseball team lost its second straight game to UNLV when it dropped a 6-1 decision to the Rebels on Saturday in Las Vegas.
The Aztecs (20-19 overall, 8-6 Mountain West Conference), got a taste of their own medicine, as UNLV (9-25 overall, 2-10 MWC) jumped on the board early, scoring one run in the first, another in the second and two more in the third to take a 4-0 lead after three. SDSU, which has made a habit of scoring early, was unable to recover from the Rebels' early barrage and would muster only one run on eight hits.
Senior right hander Jeremy Cook took the loss for the Aztecs, dropping to 2-4 on the year, while UNLV's Joe Maruffi improved to 3-4 with the win.
The top of the SDSU lineup turned in a solid performance, as center fielder Billy Montgomery, left fielder Andy Litteral and right fielder Paul Lockhart had two hits apiece. However, the rest of the Aztec lineup was unable to generate any offense as the rest of the team combined for two hits.
SDSU's lone run came in the top of the sixth when first baseman Chad Chop drove in Lockhart with one out.
The Aztecs were unable to cash in on their opportunities, stranding 10 runners on base in the contest.
The Rebels got their second consecutive impressive pitching performance, as Maruffi struck out 11 in 8 2/3 innings. Andy McCulloch came on with two out in the ninth to get Litteral to ground to second for the final out.
SDSU will try to foil UNLV's hopes for a sweep when the two teams hook up at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
SDSU 000 001 000 - 1 8 2UNLV 112 110 00X - 6 11 0
SDSU-Cook, Garber (5) and Rosenthal - UNLV- Maruffi, McCulloch (9) and Beasley
Win - Maruffi (3-4)Loss - Cook (2-4)Save - None
Home Runs - UNLV - Trent Kitsch (6)
Attendance - 361