Ute hurler shuts down Rebels

Victoria Sun

Monday, March 25, 2002 | 9:27 a.m.

With the way Utah pitcher Mitch Maio has been pitching, it's hard to believe he hasn't been a starter most of his career.

Maio, making the third start of his career, struck out 11 batters and walked none for his second complete game to lead the Utes to a 5-3 victory over UNLV at Earl E. Wilson Stadium Sunday afternoon.

"There are very few times I'll go over and shake an opposing pitcher's hand and I did just that," UNLV coach Jim Schlossnagle said. "That guy pitched really well."

The loss dropped UNLV to 11-15, 1-5 in the Mountain West Conference, while Utah improved to 14-12, 2-4 by winning the rubber match of a three-game series against the Rebels.

Until this season, Maio, a fifth-year senior, had been a reliever/closer. But the Utah coaching staff converted him to a starter to get a more experienced arm on the mound.

Maio entered Saturday night's game and recorded the final out to preserve Utah's win.

On Sunday, UNLV shortstop Ryan Ruiz ignited a two-run Rebel rally with a lead-off single in the ninth inning.

Until then, Maio had retired 16 consecutive batters.

"My change-up worked well, but I really had good location all day," Maio said. "I started losing that in the ninth and they started hitting me pretty hard.

"UNLV has some good hitters."

After grounding out to third in his first three at-bats, UNLV center fielder Brent Johnson extended his hitting streak to 13 games when he stroked an RBI double to right scoring Ruiz. Eric Nielsen followed Johnson with an RBI single to right before the final two UNLV batters flied out to end the game.

UNLV starting pitcher Robbie Van (1-5) gave up three runs, walked four and struck out six in seven innings.

Van hit four batters, two in the seventh inning which contributed to two Utah runs. But Schlossnagle was encouraged by his outing.

"He just made some poor pitches, but I thought he was still outstanding," Schlossnagle said. "This is the best he's pitched all year.

"We just need to put together a solid game where we have good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting all in the same game."