Baseball: Barnett's Bat Leads Pack To 8-5 Victory Over Saint Mary's College

RENO, Nev. -University of Nevada (17-13-1) junior right fielder Brian Barnett had two RBI, three hits including a home run and scored four runs to lead the Wolf Pack to a 8-5 nonconference victory over Saint Mary's College (10-18-1) at Peccole Park on Tuesday afternoon. With the victory the Pack improved to 17-13-1 while the Gaels dropped to 10-18-1.

SMC scored three times in the top of the second inning to take an early 3-0 advantage. Catcher Riley Heinzer and center fielder Donald Collins had RBI singles in the inning.

In the bottom half of the inning the Pack got three consecutive doubles from left fielder Nick Melino, right fielder Brian Barnett and second baseman Cullen Mahoney to score two runs. Shortstop Kevin Rodland extended his hit streak to 10 games with a single to score the third run of the inning to tie the game at 3-3.

Catcher Michael Turay singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning to score a pair of runs and put the Pack on top to stay 5-3. Nevada scored two more runs in the fifth to make it a four-run game. Third baseman Garrett Yrigoyen doubled home Barnett with the first run and scored on a throwing error on the same play.

SMC got the two runs back in the top of the sixth when Heinzer's single plated both runs. Barnett's home run in the bottom of the seventh inning made the final score 8-5.

Anthony Fagan, the second of seven Pack pitchers earned his first win at Nevada tossing two shutout innings. Freshman Tom Jameson (1) earned his first save in the Silver & Blue pitching 1.1 innings of shutout relief. SMC starter Taylor Reid (0-2) was tagged with the loss giving up five runs on five hits in his 2.2 innings on the mound.

Barnett (3-for-3,4R,2RBI) finished with a game-high three hits and four runs scored. Rodland (2-for-5,RBI) and Yrigoyen (2-for-3,R) added two hits apiece as the Pack totaled 10. Barnett and Turay each drove in two runs on the day.

While Rodland extended his hit streak to 10 games center fielder Westley Moss and designated hitter Brock Stassi had their hit streaks end at nine.

Left fielder Justin Fazio (2-for-5) and right fielder Brenden Kalfus (2-for-4,2R) led SMC with two hits each. Heinzer finished with a game-high three RBI in the loss.

Nevada travels to Seattle University for a three-game series starting on Friday night at 6:00 p.m.