St. Mary’s eight-run first inning sinks UNLV

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Jan. 31, 2000 | 9:53 a.m.

The first inning of Sunday's UNLV game against St. Mary's (Calif.) College served as a microcosm of the Rebels' season thus far: a rocky start.

Fresh off Saturday's season-opening loss to the Gaels, UNLV spotted the visitors an eight-run lead after one inning and never got back into the game, losing 13-6 to drop to 0-2 on the young campaign.

"When they put up an eight-spot like that, it puts us behind the eight-ball," UNLV coach Rod Soesbe said. "It takes you out of your offense and it lets them freewheel it on the mound."

Indeed, with an eight-run lead in his back pocket, St. Mary's starter Mike Byer looked comfortable throughout his seven innings of work. The 6-0 left-hander, who also sparkled in a win over Arizona on Jan. 22, limited the Rebels to three hits and no runs while striking out four and walking four.

"That's their strength -- good pitching," Soesbe said. "We knew we had to make some adjustments against him, and we really didn't do it."

The Gaels (3-2), who rallied in the seventh inning of Saturday's 8-5 win over the Rebels, needed no such comeback this time. They sent 13 batters to the plate in the first inning, pounding out 10 hits off UNLV right-hander Joe Maruffi (0-1).

Ten consecutive St. Mary's batters reached base in the inning.

"It was the first inning, so we didn't have anybody cranked up (in the bullpen)," Soesbe said. "It's one of those things you can't prevent."

The visitors tacked on another run in the top of the second and added three more in the fourth to take a 12-0 lead. Meanwhile, the Rebels had no success figuring out Byer, managing just one hit through the first six innings.

With the Gaels' starter out of the game, UNLV finally got going offensively in the eighth. Nate Kaup and Trent Kitsch singled and Harold Betts drew a walk to load the bases. Freshman catcher James Nepa -- a Cimarron-Memorial graduate -- then singled through the right side of the infield to put the Rebels on the scoreboard.

The hosts rallied for five more runs off Gaels relievers Ryan Whitney and J.G. LaRochette to cut the St. Mary's lead in half, but got no closer.

UNLV and St. Mary's will conclude their three-game series today at 1:05 p.m. at Wilson Stadium. Rebels junior right-hander Luke Anderson (0-0) will make his first appearance of the year against Gaels right-hander Evan Rust (0-1).

"You hate to have someone come in and sweep you in your yard," Soesbe said. "But we're not in a situation where we're panicking."