April 1, 2005
LAS VEGAS - UNLV scored four times in the eighth inning to break open a one-run game as it defeated San Diego State, 6-1, Friday evening at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas. In the process, SDSU (7-18, 2-2 MWC) wasted another solid outing by sophomore starter Bruce Billings (2-3), who allowed just two runs over seven innings while striking out five.
As good as Billings was, Rebel starter Matt Luca (3-4) was stellar in shutting down the Aztec offense from the third through eighth innings. After giving up a leadoff triple in the second to Brock Ungricht, who scored on Lance Zawadzki's ground out, Luca put two men on base via the walk with two outs.
From that point, Luca retired the next 16 batters he faced until Jordan Swaydan led off the eighth with a single to left. The UNLV ace then retired the next three batters to finish that frame. Over his eight innings of work, Luca allowed three hits and struck out eight.
Trailing 1-0, UNLV (12-18, 6-1 MWC) knotted the score in the as Ryan Kowalski, who walked to open the inning, scored on Ryan Bird's single to left. The Rebels took the lead two innings later when Justin Tellam singled with one out, went to second on a ground out, and scored on Matt Fry's single up the middle.
SDSU called on Campbell to keep the deficit at one as he came on to start the bottom of the eighth, but back-to-back doubles by Zeke Parraz and Tellam added one run to the Rebels' total. After a bunt single put runners at first and third, Fry bunted in an attempted safety squeeze. Tellam was caught off third, but Campbell's throw sailed over Lance Zawadzki's head, allowing two runs to score. Fry eventually came around and scored on a wild pitch to make it a 6-1 contest.
SDSU managed a pair of hits (singles by James Guerrero and Zawadzki) off UNLV reliever Kyle Tabeek in the ninth, but the Rebel right-hander struck out the other three hitters he faced in the inning to close out the contest.
San Diego State and UNLV continue their three-game league series on Saturday (Apr. 1) with game time set for 2:00 p.m. at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
UNLV 6, San Diego State 1SDSU 010 000 000 - 1 5 2UNLV 000 101 04x - 6 9 0Billings, Campbell (8) and SwaydanLuca, Tabeek (9) and TellamW - Luca (3-4)L - Billings (2-3)Sv - NoneHR - NoneTime - 2:40Att. - 512