April 19, 2008
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - UNLV scored six unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, then tallied three more with two out in the 10th as its persistent comeback effort paid off in a 19-18 win over San Diego State Saturday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas. In a contest play in consistent 30 mile an hour winds blowing out, the contest produced 48 hits and nine home runs combined between the two teams.
The loss ended a five-game winning streak for San Diego State as it dropped to 23-16 overall and 10-4 in the Mountain West Conference, leaving them tied for second place in the MWC with New Mexico, a half-game behind TCU. The Rebels, meanwhile, improved to 17-20 (6-8 MWC).
The 18 runs and 25 hits were new season highs for the Aztecs, but came in a frustrating loss. Brandon Glover and Brett Tanos had four hits apiece to lead the SDSU offense in a game that saw every starter for both teams garner at least one hit. Nick Romero had a team-best four RBI while Garett Green and Erik Castro each drove in three runs.
The big hitter overall on the day was Rebel first baseman Xavier Scruggs, who blasted three home runs to drive in eight runs. His first homer in the opening inning tied the game at 3-3 after SDSU had scored three runs in its first at bat with RBI by Hanzawa, Romero and Tanos. UNLV, however, added a fourth run in its half of the first after Scruggs' home run to take a 4-3 lead.
The Aztecs took the lead back in the third with a three-run rally that was capped by Glover's third homer in the past three games. That shot gave the visitors a 6-4 advantage, a lead they enjoyed until the ninth frame.
The teams scored six runs apiece over the next five innings and SDSU held a 12-10 lead heading into the ninth. Along the way, it got a solo home run from Nick Romero, his team-leading seventh of the season while UNLV received round-trippers from Michael Brenly and Rance Roundy plus got a second three-run shot from Scruggs in the eighth.
The Aztecs looked to have added enough insurance when they scored four times in the top of the ninth to take a 16-10 lead. Garett Green's two-run homer was the big blow as SDSU then turned the ball over to freshman closer Addison Reed.
The bottom of the inning began with back to back errors by the Aztecs on a dropped fly ball in the outfield by Pat Colwell and booted grounder at first base by Tanos. Two outs and four runs later Scruggs struck again, hitting his third home of the game with a runner on board to tie the game at 16-16 and send it to extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, an RBI double by Hanzawa and run-scoring single by Romero gave SDSU a two-run lead at 18-16. But the Rebels would have the last word, scoring three times with two out in the bottom of the inning to claim the improbable victory.
UNLV shortstop Jarred Frierson hit a two-out two-run homer off SDSU reliever Jon Berger to tie the score at 18 apiece. After allowing a single to the ensuing hitter, Bryan Resnick, The Aztecs brought on Brandon Pullen. The senior lefty immediately balked Resnick to second before giving up the game-winning single to center by center fielder J.J. Sferra.
That hit made a loser of Berger, who saw his record drop to 2-6 on the season. UNLV's Adam Moser, who had allowed SDSU's final six runs, was the beneficiary of his team's rallies as he was credited with the win to improve to 5-4.
The Aztecs and Rebels will conclude their three-game series with a game on Sunday (April 20) at 1:00 p.m.