Reno, Nev. - The University of Nevada(29-22, 12-7 WAC) baseball team defeated the University of Hawai`i(31-20, 9-10 WAC) by a score of 7-5 in the first game of a three-game Western Athletic Conference series on Saturday night at Peccole Park in Reno, Nev. and with the victory moved into a tie for second place with Louisiana Tech(14-9) in the conference standings. Overall the Wolf Pack improved to 29-22 while the Rainbows fell to 31-20 on the season.
Nevada scored two runs with two out in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Right fielder Mike Hale and shortstop Chris Siewert had infield singles to get the rally started. Second baseman David Ciarlo followed with a two RBI double to the right center field gap that scored both runners.
In the bottom of the fourth inning the Pack tacked on two more runs with two out. Third baseman Jason Rodriguez singled and scored on first baseman Shaun Kort's double. Catcher Konrad Schmidt scored Kort with a triple to left field and it was 4-0.
UH scored an unearned run in the top of the fifth inning to get on the scoreboard. With two down Rainbow shortstop Eli Christensen singled home first baseman Kris Sanchez who started the inning with a single. The Rainbows scored another run in the top of the sixth inning to further cut into the Pack's lead. With two out center fielder Brandon Haislet walked and scored on Sanchez' RBI double.
Rodriguez hit an inside the park home run in the bottom of the sixth inning which scored center fielder Jason Sadoian who started the inning with a double. UH center fielder Brandon Haislet was injured running into the outfield wall which allowed Rodriguez to round the bases. The Rainbows scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull within two at 6-4. Left fielder Derek Dupree singled home one run and the second scored on an error on the play by Pack right fielder Nick Sansone.
Reserve outfielder Trevor O'Sullivan reached in the bottom of the seventh inning on an error and eventually scored on Ciarlo's double to make the score 7-4. In the top of the eighth inning UH closed the gap scoring a run on three hits. Sanchez doubled to start the inning and with one down right fielder Evan Zimny walked. An RBI single by Hernandez scored Sanchez and chased Pack starter Ryan Rodriguez from the game. Reliever Matt Renfree came into the game and allowed a single to Christensen which loaded the bases. Second baseman Jonathan Hee grounded back to Renfree and it seemed the Pack would turn a double play to end the inning. Renfree’s throw home to Schmidt was dropped as he was hurrying trying to turn the double but was able to tag the runner coming home to record the second out of the inning. Renfree struck out reserve left fielder Jorge Franco swinging as UH lefty bases loaded but had closed within two at 7-5.
In the ninth Renfree struck out the side to earn his second save of the season and in as many weeks as the Pack held on for the 7-5 victory.
Ryan Rodriguez(8-5) retired the first 11 hitters of the game and won for the eighth time this season and 31st time this year. Rodriguez allowed five runs, three earned on 10 hits and struck out seven in 7.1 innings on the mound. Renfree(2) gave up two hits and struck out four of the seven hitters he faced to record his second save of the season. Ian Harrington(7-7) suffered the loss allowing six runs on 13 hits in five innings on the mound.
Sadoian(3-for-5,R) tied for game-high honors with three hits of which two were doubles. Jason Rodriguez(2-for-5,2R,2RBI,HR), Kort(2-for-4,R,RBI), Siewert(2-for-4,R), and Ciarlo(2-for-4,3RBI) added two hits each. Rodriguez drove in two with his inside the park home run while Ciarlo plated a game-high three with his two doubles.
Sanchez(3-for-5,2R,RBI) led the Rainbows with three hits and scored a run. Four different UH hitters drove in a run in the game.
Game two of the series is Sunday night with first pitch slated for 6:00 p.m.
Notes: Nevada will honor its nine seniors tomorrow prior to the start of the game.
