March 3, 2006

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - Trailing at one point by 10 runs, Rebel infielder Keith Smith brought them all the way back, hitting a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the seventh inning as UNLV upset No. 8 Texas 13-12 Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

The Rebels had chipped away at a 10-0 deficit and after scoring three runs in the fifth and the sixth, plated another three in the seventh when Smith came to the plate with the bases loaded and two out. He was facing Longhorn reliever Kenn Kasparek and after fouling off a fastball, Smith drilled the next pitch over the left-field wall to give UNLV a 13-10 lead.

Texas though threatened in the ninth, scoring two runs off of two bases-loaded walks and before Jabe Beard came in and got two strike outs to end the game and pick up the save.

UNLV's win over the eighth-ranked Longhorns (USA Today poll) was the Rebels' highest-ranked opponent they have beat since No. 6 Cal State Fullerton, 6-5, last year at home on Feb. 25.

The Rebels improved to 5-8 on the year, the fourth-straight win for UNLV, all which have come at home. Alex Chalfant (1-2) came out of the Rebel bullpen and worked 3.2 solid innings of relief, allowing just one run and striking out three for his first win of the year. Texas fell to 9-7 overall and Kasparek (0-1) was credited with the loss.

The night started off in rough fashion for the Rebels as Nick Peoples took the first pitch he saw from Rebel starter Chris Saddoris over the right-center fence for a 1-0 Texas lead. Saddoris settled down after that, retiring the next six batters he saw. Texas then added to its lead, scoring four runs in the third and then another four in the fourth for a 9-1 margin, getting eight hits over the two frames. Texas tacked on one more run in the fifth inning on a Kyle Russell home run to left field, but that would be the only run that Chalfant gave up on the evening, keeping the door open for the dramatic Rebel comeback.

Blake Gailen started off the inning with a single, moved to third on a one-out double by Ryan Bird and then Gailen scored on a ground out by Zerega Jr. that made the score 10-7. Willie Bowman then hit a triple to center field that scored Bird and brought in Kasparek from the Longhorn bullpen.

After that it was two costly errors that helped undo Texas, as Mike Cruz and Zach Borba each reached on errors, pushing Bowman across the plate and bringing Efren Navarro Jr. up to bat with the score 10-9. He drew a walk to load the bases and UNLV head coach Buddy Gouldsmith decided to pinch hit for designated hitter Chad Miller, instead inserting Smith, who hit his second home run of the year.

Gailen finished the night going 3-4 with two runs scored while Bird and Zerega Jr. each had two hits as well. Zerega Jr. finished with a career-high four RBI and Bird scored three runs. Peoples had a strong night for UT, going 5-5 with three runs scored and three driven in and Preston Clark was 3-4 with two runs scored.

The two teams continue their series Saturday afternoon, with the first pitch slated for 2:00 p.m. (PST) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.