Rebels sweep Lobos

Victoria Sun

Monday, April 1, 2002 | 9:31 a.m.

Prior to facing New Mexico, the UNLV baseball team was starving for offense.

But the Lobos served up plenty of meatballs and the Rebels feasted on them for three consecutive days.

UNLV racked up 14 hits in a 15-6 win over New Mexico at Earl E. Wilson Stadium Sunday afternoon to sweep the three-game series against the Lobos.

"We got some good, focused at-bats," UNLV coach Jim Schlossnagle said. "New Mexico is a better team than they showed this weekend.

"We played as good as we did all year, but not only did we get some solid hits, we got some real good starting pitching all weekend.

Entering the weekend, UNLV was last in the Mountain West Conference standings with one conference victory while the Lobos were first at 5-1.

UNLV's strong showing improved the Rebels to 14-14, 4-5 in the MWC and dropped the Lobos to 15-17, 5-4.

In three games against New Mexico, UNLV outscored the Lobos 49-13.

Rebels shortstop Ryan Ruiz battered the Lobos' pitching staff the first two days going 4-for-9 with five runs scored and two RBIs.

After he led off the first inning Sunday with a single and scored the first run on a balk, he walked three times.

"It's hard not to be pleased with Ryan Ruiz," Schlossnagle said. "We put him in the leadoff spot and that has helped us a lot."

UNLV starting pitcher Robbie Van held the Lobos scoreless through six innings, then got restless in the seventh.

After giving up four hits that led to three runs in the seventh, Van was relieved by James Wickman, who recorded the final two outs of the inning.

Van struck out nine and walked three in 6 1/3 innings for his second win of the season.

"It was really good that we scored those runs early," Van said. "It's a lot easier to pitch when you're ahead.

The Rebels jumped ahead with two runs in the first and eight more in the fourth for a 10-0 lead.

UNLV left fielder Joe Wickman, second baseman Garett Shitanishi, left fielder Eric Nielsen and first baseman David Trujillo each had RBI singles in the fourth. Trujillo and catcher Robert VanKirk doubled in two runs in that inning and right fielder Jason Reuss drilled a two-run homer to right field.

UNLV hosts 15th ranked Arizona State at 6:30 tonight.