Rebels baseball teams wins season finale

Monday, May 15, 2000 | 10:03 a.m.

The UNLV baseball team defeated Mountain West Conference foe San Diego State 8-7 in the Rebels' season finale Sunday afternoon on the Aztecs' field

UNLV, winners of 17 of its last 23, improved to 24-31 overall and finished in fifth place in the MWC with a 14-16 record. San Diego State dropped to 30-28 overall and 17-12 in the conference.

The Rebels recorded 17 hits off six Aztecs pitchers and jumped out to a 3-0 lead after their first at-bat. SDSU tied the score in the bottom of the first with a three-run home run by designated hitter Jacob Minter.

UNLV then took the lead for good with two runs in the second off of starter and loser, right-hander Rory Shortell (5-6). He pitched 1 2/3 innings and allowed five runs.

UNLV freshman left-hander Giovanni Pupo pitched 6 1/3 innings to improve to 3-7. He allowed nine hits, sevens runs (six earned), struck out two and didn't walk a batter.

UNLV returns home for the inaugural Mountain West Conference Tournament, which runs Wednesday-Saturday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The double-elimination tourney will feature the following first-round games on Wednesday: 11 a.m., New Mexico vs. Air Force; 3 p.m., San Diego State vs. UNLV and 7 p.m., BYU vs. Utah.