May 27, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - UNLV scored eight times in the bottom of the sixth to break open a 3-3 deadlock as the Rebels went on to an 11-3 win over San Diego State at the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Salt Lake City Friday night. The loss eliminated SDSU from the tourney as it ends its 2005 campaign with a record of 26-35. It also marks the first time in the six-year history of the league that the Aztecs will not appear in the championship contest,
San Diego State took a quick 1-0 lead in the first on James Guerrero's solo homer to right center field, his fifth of the season. However, after Guerrero's blast, UNLV starting pitcher Derek Rodriguez (5-5) retired the next 13 straight Aztec hitters.
Playing their fifth game in three days, SDSU handed the ball to junior right-hander Will Miller to make only the second start in his three seasons at SDSU. Miller acquitted himself well over the first five innings, allowing three runs on four hits as the Rebels (32-27) took a 3-1 lead.
The Aztecs finally got to Rodriguez, coming back to knot the score at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. After Jordan Swaydan led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch, second baseman Sam Pepper laid down a bunt and was safe at first on a high throw by Rebel third baseman Mike Cruz.
Swaydan went to third on the play, and came home on Quintin Berry's fielder's choice ground ball. Joseph Scaperotta reached base on a catcher's interference, and that was followed by an RBI double by Guerrero to score Berry and tie the game.
However, things fell apart for SDSU in the bottom of the same inning as UNLV tallied eight runs on six hits, two walks and an error against Miller (1-5) and reliever Jared Suwyn to put the game out. The Rebels added three more in the eighth on a three-run homer by Efren Navarro for the final 14-3 score line.
Guerrero was the lone Aztecs with more than one hit as he also accounted for two of the team's three RBI on the night.
UNLV 11, San Diego State 3SDSU 100 002 000 - 3 5 1UNLV 020 018 03x - 14 13 2Rodriguez, Huseman (9) and Tellam, Walker (8)Miller, Suwyn (6), Bruckart (7), McLintock (8) and SwaydanW - Rodriguez (5-5)L - Miller (1-5)Sv - NoneHR - SDSU: Guerrero (5) UNLV Fry (6), Navarro (2)Time - 2:28Att. - 1,236