Brolsma strong in Nevada's defeat

Staff Reports

After two impressive starts, Travis Sutton couldn't hold a lead this time as the University of Nevada baseball team lost to arch rival UNLV 8-6 on Friday in Las Vegas.

Nevada scored four runs in the second inning to stake Sutton (2-1) to a 4-0 lead. But UNLV touched Sutton for four runs in the fourth and two more runs in the fifth. Sutton, though, was only charged with two earned runs as the Wolf Pack committed two costly errors.

Freshman Owen Brolsma of Carson High had an impressive outing, not allowing a run over 1.1 innings. In three appearances, Brolsma has allowed one run over four innings for a 2.25 earned run average.

Redshirt freshman Brandon Evans of Galena had a rough outing, allowing two runs over 1.1 innings.

UNLV's Matt Luca settled down afte the four-run second, pitching five innings for the win. Matt Minor was touched for a run in the ninth before picking up the save.

Chris Gimenez, Erick Streelman and Gabe Mayorga all walked to begin Nevada's rally in the fourth. Robert Marcial followed with a two-run single and Brett Hayes added an RBI single during the rally.

UNLV's four-run rally in the fourth came on the strength of two errors, two wild pitches, a hit batsman, two fielder's choices and a two-run double by Ryan Ruiz. The Rebels took a 6-4 lead in the fifth on Justin Tellam's two-run double.

Nevada closed to within 6-5 in the sixth when Gimenez singled and eventually scored on Marcial's single. But UNLV took an 8-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth on Eric Nielsen's RBI double and Brent Johnson's RBI triple.

The Wolf Pack scored in the ninth on Hayes' sacrifice fly, but left the bases loaded to end the game.

Marcial had two hits and three RBI, Gimenez had two hits, Hayes added two RBI and Ben Mummy doubled. Eddie Gill had three hits for UNLV.