Charles Whisnand
RENO - University of Nevada baseball fans who show up for this weekend's series against San Jose State should be ready for a thrill-a-minute, roller coaster ride.
It was just another typical day at Peccole Park for the Wolf Pack, who pulled off their third miracle rally in four games. This time, the Wolf Pack not only came back once, they came back twice.
They also needed 11 innings until Bub Madrid came through with his second walk off, game-winning hit in four games. His RBI single in the bottom of the 11th gave Nevada a 12-11 win over Pacific on Tuesday. On Friday, Madrid capped a six-run rally in the ninth with a three-run home run to give Nevada a 13-12 win over Lewis-Clark State.
Carson High graduate Joe Mercer continued to play a key role in Nevada's success. Mercer went 2-for-5 with three RBI, including a two-run homer that helped bring the Wolf Pack back. Mercer is now hitting .366 (15-for-41) with three homers and 18 RBI.
"It's interesting every time we come to the ball game," Nevada coach Gary Powers said. "It's fun in its own way."
Patrick Mason gave Nevada a splendid effort, pitching 3 2/3 scoreless innings for the win.
Madrid's heroics came after he and Mercer failed in the ninth to end it. Derek McNeil reached on an error to begin the 11th.
Tino Psaradelis, who's aggressive base running allowed Nevada to tie the game and force extra innings in the ninth, followed with a sacrifice bunt. Psaradelis moved to third in Robert Marcial's fly ball.
For the second straight time, Brett Hayes was intentionally walked to create a force play, bringing Madrid up to the plate. Madrid belted a game-winning single to center field.
"That's pretty much disrespect for you," said Madrid about Pacific walking Hayes twice to bring him up. "I got two chances, luckily I got two chances. If I keep getting the winning base hits, that will be fine with me."
Nevada's comeback really began in the fifth when it was down 8-2. With two outs, Chris Gimenez, who went 0-for-6, made a spectacular diving catch in left center field that saved two runs and ended the inning.
"There's a lot of different ways to help a team win," Powers said. "He contributed to this victory."
Pacific went on to take a 9-2 lead when Jacob Butler's homer and Marcial's two-run shot cut the lead to 9-5 in the sixth. Nevada rallied for five runs in the seventh to take a 10-9 lead, highlighted by Mercer's two-run shot. McNeil's two-run single eventually gave Nevada a 10-9 lead.
Carson graduate Owen Brolsma came into the game in the seventh and pitched a one-two-three inning, striking out two. But he was the victim of bad luck in the eighth. He struck out Jordan Seiber with a slider in the dirt, but the pitch got away from Hayes, and Seiber reached first base.
Matt Kavanaugh followed with an RBI double that tied the score 10-10. Bryan Johnson came in and allowed Brandon Gottier's RBI single, giving Pacific an 11-10 lead. Mason came in and got a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play to end the inning with Hayes throwing out the runner at second.
"Patrick came in and did a great job," Powers said. "The good thing is, he came in a real tough situation. It was a big play when we needed it and a big pitch when we needed it."
In the ninth, Baker Krukow singled and Psaradelis pinch run for him. Psaradelis moved up to second on a bad pickoff throw and scored with some aggressive base running. He was able to see that Marcial's bloop single was going to drop and scored on the play to make it 11-11.
Marcial moved up to second on the play and Nevada had a chance to win after Hayes was intentionally walked. But Pacific's Josh Schmidt struck out Madrid and Mercer with wicked sliders to end the inning.
"I was frustrated at the time, but he threw a great pitch," Mercer said. "I've got to tip my cap to him."
Brandon Gottier was roughed up for five runs in one-third of an inning. The score was 4-0 after four batters. Evan Bishop led off the game with a homer and and Seiber belted a three-run shot to make it 4-0.
Butler led the Wolf Pack with four hits. Nevada also received an encouraging effort from Darrick Cummings, who made his first appearance after being out with a broken arm. Cummings retired all four batters he faced.
Notes: Gottier didn't last long enough to face his namesake, Brandon Gottier, who's a catcher for the Tigers... Nevada had to use a makeshift lineup as center fielder Brian Gazerro is still out indefinitely due to an illness in his family and second baseman Gabe Mayorga and first baseman Ben Mummy also missed the game. Mayorga was hit in the elbow twice with a pitch on Saturday and has played the last two games, but should play against San Jose State. Mummy, who was out with the flu, should also play this weekend. Mercer started at third and batted cleanup and eventually moved to first. Douglas High gradaute Austin Graham started in left field and went 0-for-2.
Contact Charles Whisnand at cwhisnand@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1214.
