Box Score March 6, 2015
Final Stats Box Score
Season Statistics
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The 29th-ranked Nevada baseball team used a four-run seventh inning to rally past UNLV, snapping a six-game losing skid to its rivals behind a 5-4 win Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Nevada improves to 5-1 in one-run games this season.
The Wolf Pack (12-1, 4-0) was held scoreless with just one hit through four innings and trailed 4-1 entering the seventh frame. Junior LHP Christian Stolo - a two-way player and Reno native - made his first plate appearance of the season, hitting a two-RBI single to catapult Nevada into the lead.
Junior LHP Cameron Rowland made his first career Division I start, allowing three earned runs through five innings of work. Sophomore RHP Evan McMahan earned the win following 1.2 innings of relief, while junior closer Adam Whitt slammed the door shut by no-hitting the Rebels in the eighth and ninth.
"This was great perseverance by our guys tonight," said head coach Jay Johnson. "We overcame a lot of adversity early in the game in a hostile environment. I am proud of them for staying with it and focusing on their play."
Nevada moved into sole possession of first place in the Mountain West standings with the victory. The Pack also registered its first victory over the Rebels since Feb. 14, 2013.
Facing UNLV's sophomore RHP D.J. Myers - who owned the league's second-best ERA - the game appeared to be a battle of one of the MW's top pitchers against one of its top offenses. The Rebels took the upper hand at first, scoring two runs in the second and in the fifth to claim a 4-1 lead.
The Wolf Pack turned the tables in the top of the seventh. Senior Kyle Hunt singled with runners on the corners and one out, cutting UNLV's lead in half. Junior RHP Ben Wright entered the game for Myers, loading the bases after hitting senior Austin Byler.
After sophomore Trenton Brooks struck out, Johnson brought in Stolo as a pinch hitter with two outs. Making his first Division I plate appearance, the McQueen alum roped a single through right field, scoring junior Ryan Howell and Byler for the go-ahead runs.
Whitt, a native of Carson City, entered the game in the top of the eighth inning, looking to hold on to Nevada's one-run advantage. Whitt allowed one base runner in the eighth and retired the side in order in the ninth, tallying his sixth save of the season. Whitt improved his team-best ERA to 0.82.
Howell - who entered the game as the NCAA leader in home runs and RBI - led the Pack bats with a 3-of-5 performance at the plate. The Brentwood, Calif., native tallied one RBI while securing his eighth multi-hit game of the season. Meyer went 2-of-4 with one run and one RBI as well.
Game two between the Wolf Pack and Rebels will get underway at 2:05 p.m. (PT) from Wilson Stadium.
