Stockton, Calif. – University of Nevada(4-6) starting pitcher Ryan Rodriguez pitched the Wolf Pack past Pacific(2-6) 7-0 in the first-game of a three-game series at Klein Family Field in Stockton, Calif. Friday afternoon. With the win the Pack improved to 4-6 while the Tigers dropped to 2-6 on the season.
Rodriguez(1-2) combined with Jordan Salazar to shutout the Tigers and earn his first win of the season and the 24th of his career which ties him with Barry Kuzminski(1980-83) for third on the Pack career list. He struck out nine and allowed just two hits in his seven shutout innings on the mound. In his last two starts he has allowed four runs, one earned in 14 innings and struckout 18. Salazar allowed just one hit pitching the final two innings of the game. The shutout is the first for the Pack since Tim Schoeninger and Travis Sutton combined to shutout UNLV 6-0, almost one year ago on Feb. 17, 2006 at Peccole Park in Reno.
After two scoreless innings the Pack scored three unearned runs in the top of the third inning. Shortstop Owen Mackedon started the inning with a walk moved to third base on second baseman David Ciarlo’s single. First baseman Shaun Kort drove in Mackedon with the first run of the game after reaching base on a fielding error. Catcher Konrad Schmidt scored Ciarlo with a sacrifice fly and the Pack led 2-0. Left fielder Terry Walsh followed with a hard single up the middle which scored Kort to extend the advantage to 3-0.
In the fourth inning center fielder Jason Sadoian doubled and scored on Kort’s single and the Pack led 4-0. Schmidt made it 6-4 in the top of the sixth inning after hitting his fourth home run of the season and third in the last two games. The homer scored Kort who doubled with two down.
Ciarlo doubled in the top of the eighth inning and scored on Kort’s RBI single to make the final score 7-0.
Kort(4-for-5,2R,3RBI) collected a career high four hits, scored two runs, and drove in three in the game. Schmidt(3-for-4,R,3RBI,HR) had three hits and drove in three, two coming on the two-run homer. In the last two games he has gone seven for nine with three doubles, three home runs, and driven in 10.
Three different players collected a single for the Tigers.
Game two of the series is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Klein Family Field.
Notes: In the last two games Konrad Schmidt has gone seven for nine with three doubles, three home runs, and driven in 10.
Ryan Rodriguez moved into a tie for third on the career victories list at Nevada with Barry Kuzminski(1980-83) with 24 victories. He has allowed four runs, one earned in his last 14 innings while striking out 18. Today’s game was his 53rd consecutive start.
