Feb. 11, 2000
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The No. 3 UCLA baseball team suffered its first loss of the season, falling at the hands of the UNLV Hustlin' Rebels 21-5 Friday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas.
With the loss, Bruins' overall record falls to 4-1, while UNLV improves to 3-3. The game belonged to the Rebel hitters, who combined for 21 runs on 22 hits including five home runs and five doubles. UNLV first baseman Tony DeMarco led the way for the Rebels, hitting a single, three doubles and a home run good for eight RBI.
The Rebels took a quick five run lead in the bottom of the first inning on a single, two doubles and back-to-back home runs by designated hitter Trent Kitsch and catcher Harold Betts. UNLV posted another five run inning in the fourth, in which the entire lineup saw an at bat, highlighted by Kitsch's second homer of the game. The Rebels scored runs in all but the sixth inning.
UNLV starter Joe Maruffi (1-1) earned the win, and allowed four earned runs on seven hits through 6.1 innings. Bruin starter Jon Brandt (1-1) suffered the loss, his first of the season. Brandt only lasted three innings in which he gave up 11 runs, nine earned, while striking out three.
Junior catcher Forrest Johnson had the best night with the bat for the Bruins, going 3-4 with two runs including a solo home run over the right field fence in the eighth inning. UCLA tried to put together a rally in the seventh inning, highlighted with a bases loaded double down the left field line by right fielder Nick Lyon. But three runs was all UCLA could string together that inning.
Junior second baseman Chase Utley extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in four at bats. Junior left fielder Bill Scott went 0-4, snapping his career-best 16 game hitting streak.
Brandt was relieved by freshman left hander Mike Kunes who gave up seven earned runs on nine hits over three innings. Freshman right hander Kevin Jerkens made his first collegiate appearance on the mound following Kunes and allowed three runs, one earned, on three hits through two innings.
UCLA will look to bounce back tomorrow as the three-game series continues in Las Vegas. Sophomore right-hander Josh Karp will look for his second straight victory in 2000 when he takes the mound for the Bruins Saturday, Feb. 12. UNLV will counter with left-hander Giovanni Pupo. The game is set to begin at 1:05 and will be broadcast live on the internet at www.unlvrebels.com.