Reno, Nev. - The University of Nevada(20-18) baseball team led Stanford(14-15) 4-3 after four innings but the Cardinal scored the final six runs of the game to win the nonconference match up at Peccole Park in Reno, Nev. Tuesday afternoon 9-4. The loss drops the Wolf Pack to 20-18 on the season while Stanford snapped a six-game skid and are now 14-15.
Pack left fielder Mike Hale started the bottom of the first inning with a triple off the center field wall and scored on a wild pitch to give Nevada a 1-0 lead. The Wolf Pack got consecutive singles by first baseman Shaun Kort, catcher Baker Krukow, and a walk to designated hitter Jacob Kaup loaded the bases with one out for right fielder Cody Fierro. Fierro struck out for the second out of the inning but an infield single by shortstop Chris Siewert scored a run to make the score 2-0. Second baseman David Ciarlo struck out to end the bottom of the first inning.
A throwing error by Siewert in the top of the second inning allowed Stanford left fielder Joey August to score from third base as the Cardinal had cut the lead in half. In the top of the third inning Stanford took the lead scoring a pair of runs to go in front 3-2. August drove in the first run with a single and catcher Brent Milleville’s single scored the second. Kort hit his first home run at Peccole Park leading off the bottom of the third inning and the game was tied at 3-3.
Nevada center fielder Nick Sansone doubled to start the bottom of the fourth inning and moved to third base where he scored on third baseman Jason Rodriguez’ ground out to give the Wolf Pack a 4-3 advantage. A home run by Cardinal center fielder Sean Ratliff to start the top of the fifth inning again tied the game this time at 4-4. Consecutive walks to second baseman Adam Sorgi and right fielder Michael Taylor was followed by a successful sacrifice bunt by August to keep the inning alive. Milleville’s sacrifice fly gave the Cardinal a 5-4 lead.
Milleville continued his hot hitting with a two RBI double in the seventh and another RBI double in the top of the ninth inning. Ratliffe’s sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth inning accounted for the other run.
Reliever Jacob Kaup(2-1) suffered his first loss of the season as he did not retire a batter allowing a hit and walking two. In total Nevada used seven pitchers in the game. Tom Stilson(2-1) got the win recording two outs in the game for Stanford. David Stringer(7) pitched five shutout innings to earn his seventh save of the season.
Kort(2-for-4,2R,RBI) and Terry Walsh(2-for-2) led Nevada with two hits apiece. Kort, Rodriguez, and Siewert each drove in a run.
Milleville(4-for-4,5RBI) had a game and career-high four hits and drove in five of Stanford’s nine runs. August(3-for-3,2R,RBI) had three hits and scored a pair of runs.
Next action for the Wolf Pack is Friday when San Jose State comes to town for the first of a three-game Western Athletic Conference series starting at 6:00 p.m.
