SEATTLE - The University of Nevada (18-13-1) baseball team scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Seattle University (4-24) 11-5, in the first game of a three-game series at Bannerwood Stadium Friday night. With the win the Wolf Pack improved to 18-13-1 while the Redhawks dropped to 4-24.
SU right-hander Brandon Kizer retired the first 13 Pack hitters of the game and the Redhawks led 4-0 after four innings of play. Second baseman Cullen Hendrickson hit a two-run homer in the first inning and SU added two more in the fourth inning to gave the Redhawks the lead.
Nevada's first run of the game came in the fifth inning when left fielder Nick Melino singled and scored on right fielder Brian Barnett's RBI double. Second baseman Cullen Mahoney's sacrifice fly in the sixth inning scored Nevada's second run of the night. The Redhawks got the run back in the bottom of the inning to again lead by three at 5-2.
Melino and Barnett had RBI singles in the top of the eighth inning to get the Pack within a run at 5-4. In the top of the ninth Nevada sent 11 players to the plate and seven scored to put the Pack in front to stay 12-5. First baseman Shaun Kort and Barnett each had two RBI singles in the big inning. With the two RBI Kort moved past from MLB player Wally Joyner (BYU, 1981-83) into 10th in career RBI in the Western Athletic Conference.
Barnett (3-for-5,R,4RBI) and Melino (3-for-5,R,RBI) tied for team-high honors with three hits each. Designated hitter Brock Stassi (2-for-4,3R) added two hits as the team totaled 11. Barnett drove in four and Kort two. Shortstop Kevin Rodland went hitless in five at bats as his team-high 10-game hit streak was snapped.
Left fielder Bryndon Ecklund (3-for-4) and center fielder Doug Buser (2-for-5,2R,RBI) topped SU with three and two hits respectively. Hendrickson had two RBI to top the Redhawks.
Beau Witsoe (3-2) tossed 4.2 innings of relief to get the win allowing just one unearned run on three hits. Max Whieldon (1-6) was tagged with the loss giving up three runs on one hit.
Game two of the series is slated for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
