Baseball: 4-run 6th inning pushes Nevada past New Mexico State 11-5

Reno, Nev. - The University of Nevada (17-17, 6-2 WAC) used a four-run sixth inning to break a 4-4 tie and went on to defeat New Mexico State University (30-7, 5-4 WAC) 11-5 in the first game of a four-game Western Athletic Conference series at Peccole Park in Reno Thursday night. With the victory the Wolf Pack remain in first place in the WAC with a 6-2 record while the Aggies dropped to 5-4 in conference play and 30-7 on the year.

Trailing most of the game NMSU scored a single run in the top of the sixth inning to tie the score at 4-4 but in the bottom half of the inning the Pack scored four times to take the lead for good. With two down shortstop Kevin Rodland started the rally by drawing a walk. Right fielder Matt Bowman followed with his team-leading seventh home run of the season. Center fielder Westley Moss collected an infield single and first baseman Shaun Kort blasted a home run over the right field fence to give the Pack an 8-4 advantage.

Aggie catcher Jeffrey Farnham's solo home run in the top of the seventh inning closed the gap to three at 8-5. Nevada scored three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the final score 11-5. Left fielder Nick Melino doubled home two of the runs and eventually came around to score on catcher Travis Simas' groundout.

Nevada starter Brock Stassi (5-3) won his team-leading fifth game of the year allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings on the mound. Reliever Tyler Graham (1) recorded his first save of the season pitching two hitless scoreless inning as he faced just the six hitters. NMSU starter Tyler Sturdevant (4-3) suffered the loss giving up eight runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings of action.

Moss (3-for-4,3R) led Nevada with three hits and three runs scored. Bowman (2-for-4,2R,2RBI), Kort (2-for-5,2R,3RBI), third baseman Tyson Jaquez (2-for-4,2R) and Melino (2-for-3,R,2RBI) added two hits apiece in the game. Kort drove in a game-high three runs while Bowman, Melino and Simas finished with two RBI each.

Farnham (3-for-4,R,2RBI) had three hits to top the Aggies as did his two RBI. Farnham, shortstop Bryan Marquez and third baseman Wade Reynoso each hit solo home runs in the game for NMSU.

Game two of the series is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon.