Ruiz helps lift Rebels by SDSU

Monday, March 31, 2003 | 11:31 a.m.

Junior second baseman Ryan Ruiz hit a two-run double to right field in the 12th inning to give UNLV a 10-9 victory against San Diego State on Sunday.

It was Ruiz' only hit of the day, scoring Patrick Dobson and Eric Nielsen.

The Rebels improved to 22-9 and lead the Mountain West Conference at 7-2. The Aztecs fell to 13-18, 6-3 in league play.

Reliever Ryan Braun (3-1) picked up the win. He gave up one run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning.

UNLV starter Jake Vose went 4 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits with six strikeouts. James Thompson threw five shutout innings with only one hit and five strikeouts.

SDSU's Ryan Heil (0-2) was the loser. He was charged with the go-ahead run while giving up only two hits.

Dobson finished the game 3-for-6 with four RBIs. Neilsen went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and Fernando Valenzuela went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

Also, UNLV freshman pitcher Matt Luca was named one of three Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week today.

Luca threw a nine-inning no-hitter in a 5-0 victory over San Diego State on Friday. He struck out a season-high 11 batters and allowed only three men to reach base.

Ellis' hit capped the victory for the Rebels (16-23), who were forced to go to extra innings after the Lobos (16-24-1, 1-3) scored runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to tie it.

The Rebels trail first-place Texas by eight strokes as none of the 14 teams broke par at the par-72, 7,094-yard Tucson National Golf Course.