May 6, 2007
SAN DIEGO - UNLV scored five times in the fifth inning to come from a run down as it defeated San Diego State, 6-1, Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Rebels swept the weekend conference series from the Aztecs and sent them to their eighth straight defeat.
The visitors got a complete-game effort from starting pitcher Kevin Skogley (2-4), who scattered seven hits and struck out 15. The junior left-hander won for just the second time in 10 starts in 2007.
San Diego State took its only lead of the day with run in the third inning as a two-out single by Joe Spiers and a walk to Troy Hanzawa was followed by an RBI single to center by Nick Romero.
SDSU starter Lance Sewell cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one hit while recording six strikeouts. However, it all came unraveled in the top of the fifth for the Aztec lefty as Rance Roundy opened the frame with a single and went to second on a walk to Willie Bowman.
Michael Brenly then laid down a sacrifice bunt to third, but Romero's throw to first was dropped by second baseman Brandon Decker, who was covering on the play. That allowed Roundy to score and sent Bowman to third.
Braden Walker was hit by pitch to load the bases, and with one out Ryan Kowalski doubled to center to bring home Bowman and Brenly. Reliever Mike Koons came on in relief of Sewell and was promptly greeted by a single off the bat of Keith Smith to drive home Walker. When Smith's hit was misplayed in center field by Brandon Glover, Kowalski also scored with the fifth run of the inning.
Sewell ended his afternoon with 4.1 innings pitched, allowing five runs (four earned) on just three hits along with seven strikeouts. The loss evened his season record at 5-5.
After the Rebels added a run off Koons in the sixth, freshman Nate Solow came on and shut out the visitors over the final 3.1 innings on just one hit.
Glover was the lone Aztec batter to account for more than open hit as he notched a pair of singles in four at bats. Kowalski, Roundy and Walker had two hits apiece for UNLV.
Up next for San Diego State is a non-conference contest against 24th-ranked Long Beach State on Tuesday, May 8, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. That game will be televised nationally on CSTV.