UNLV pitcher strikes out 15 as Rebels add to streak

Friday, April 21, 2000 | 10:04 a.m.

The UNLV baseball team defeated Utah 4-2 in a Mountain West Conference game Thursday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

UNLV increased its season-high winning streak to nine games and improved to 16-25 overall and 7-10 in MWC play. Utah dropped to 17-25, 7-12.

The nine-game winning streak ties the longest streak under head coach Rod Soesbe. The 1997 team won nine straight.

Sophomore left-hander Ryan Olson improved to 4-1 with his third straight victory. He tied the school record with 15 strikeouts, a mark held by four other pitchers. Herb Pryor struck out 15 twice (1971 and 1972), Donovan Osborne also struck out 15 twice (1989) and Stan Eisen (1973) and Greg Roscoe (1986) each did it once.

Olson allowed four hits and two runs and did not walk a batter. He retired the side in order six times, including the second through the sixth innings. He retired 19 straight and struck out 14 of the hitters he faced from the first through the seventh innings. During one stretch, he retired 24 of 25 batters he faced.

The three-game series will continue at 7:05 tonight at Wilson Stadium and concludes Saturday.