Rebels pull off upset in opener

Thursday, May 17, 2001 | 10:36 a.m.

SAN DIEGO -- Fifth-seeded UNLV pulled off the upset and defeated host and second seed San Diego State 1-0 in the opening round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Wednesday night.

It was the first shutout in the history of the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

Starting pitcher Ryan Olson earned the win to improve to 4-4 on the season. Olson pitched eight innings and allowed no runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.

Joe Maruffi picked up his sixth save of the season.

The Aztecs had two outs and two strikes in the bottom of the ninth with the tying run at third and the winning run on second when Sean Pierce was caught stealing home and thrown out at the plate to end the game.

The only run of the game came in the second inning when the Rebels' Brent Johnson scored on a Brad Hertel double play grounder to second base.

UNLV faces New Mexico at 7 p.m. today. The Lobos upset Utah 7-4 Wednesday.

BYU defeated Air Force 7-1 in the opening game of the tournament.