March 4, 2016
LAS VEGAS - In a pitcher's duel that lasted just one hour and 47 minutes, it was host UNLV that came out on top of San Jose State in a 2-1 ballgame Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
The Spartans (4-7, 0-1 MW) and Rebels (2-5, 1-0 MW) had four hits apiece in the ballgame, and all three runs scored on solo blasts.
Josh Nashed (0-2) took a tough-luck loss for San Jose State. The sophomore right-hander tossed 8.0 innings and yielded just two runs on four hits while striking out five of the 28 Rebels he faced.
UNLV made their hits count, though. Kyle Isbel led off the seventh inning with a home run to right center that snapped Nashed's streak of retired Rebels at 16. When the Spartans tied up the game in the top of the eighth on Shane Timmons' second home run of the season, Nick Rodriguez answered in the bottom half with a homer of his own to put UNLV back on top.
Rebels starter D.J. Myers went the first 6.0 innings and allowed three hits while striking out seven and walking three. Ben Wright (1-1) took over in the seventh and got the win for his 3.0-inning, one run on one hit performance.
For the Spartans, Timmons (3-3, run, intentional walk, RBI, double, home run) had a big night, but only Brendt Citta (1-4) was able to join him in the hits column. San Jose State came up empty in a bases loaded situation with two outs in the third inning and a first and third, no-out situation in the sixth.
"It's tough, especially in a conference game. We had three opportunities with guys with guys on base and we strike out," Spartans head coach Dave Nakama said. "We strike out too much with guys on base, and we have to have better at-bats.
"Their guy pitched well too, and even their reliever pitched well. He made a mistake to Timmons and he hits a home run, but look at the respect they gave him. They intentionally walked him early in the game in a 0-0 game with runners on second and third and two outs, then they struck out the next guy. That's a lot of credit to Timmons. He's swinging the bat well."
Game two of the series gets underway Saturday at 2:05 p.m. Logan Handzlik (1-0, 3.27 ERA) gets the ball for San Jose State, while UNLV gives the nod to Dean Kremer (0-1, 4.09).