BB: Rebels Fall 10-7 Against San Diego State

May 4, 2012

SAN DIEGO (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team suffered a 10-7 setback in a Mountain West game to San Diego State Friday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The game was back-and-forth most of the night until the Aztecs scored four runs in the sixth to reclaim a lead they would not relinquish.

UNLV starter Erik Fedde took a no-decision after allowing five runs, two of which were earned, in five innings of work. The freshman right-hander walked five and struck out two. The win went to San Diego State's Philip Walby (1-3) who came on to work four innings in relief of starter Justin Hepner. UNLV's Joe Robinson (2-6) took the loss after allowing three runs, one earned, without retiring a batter in the sixth.

San Diego State (21-26, 10-9 Mountain West) got on the board early, plating three runs in the bottom of the first. Tim Zier got things going with a one-out single up the middle, then came around to score on Ryan Muno's double. Spencer Thornton followed Muno with an RBI double of his own to make the score, 2-0 San Diego State. Thornton later scored after a throwing error by shortstop Danny Higa allowed John Spirk to reach base safely.

The Rebels (21-26, 5-14 Mountain West) clawed back in the fourth. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Trevor Kirk coaxed a walk. Danny Higa followed with an RBI double to left-center, putting UNLV on the board for the first time all night. T.J. White followed with a walk and Joey Swanner came through with an RBI single, plating Higa and making it, 3-2 SDSU. Then with two on and two out, freshman Erick VanMeetren ripped a double down the left-field line, scoring both White and Swanner and giving UNLV its first lead of the night at 4-3.
The lead wouldn't last long as SDSU posted two runs in their half of the fourth. Jomel Torres led off the frame with a walk and later advanced to third on a throwing error by third baseman T.J. White. Torres ultimately scored when Matt Munoz bounced into a fielder's choice. Munoz, safe at first on the play, would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by Greg Allen and come home to score on Chris Wilson's two-out single, giving the Aztecs a 5-4 advantage.

Once again, the Rebels bounced back with two runs in the sixth. VanMeetren led off with his second double of the game and later advanced to third on a passed ball. Tyler Blair followed with a sacrifice fly to right, knotting the game back up at five. Senior Scott Dysinger followed Blair with a double and came home to score on Mark Shannon's RBI single to right, once again giving UNLV a one-run advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth, SDSU would break loose, however, scoring four runs to open up a three-run cushion. Both the Rebels and Aztecs would score just one more run apiece, making the final score, 10-7 San Diego State.

UNLV and SDSU will continue their series with games Saturday and Sunday. Tomorrow's game is scheduled for 6 p.m. with freshman left-hander Zak Qualls on the mound. Sunday's game will begin at 1 p.m. PT.