UNLV 10, Air Force 1

Wednesday, May 21, 2003 | 9:08 a.m.

ALBUQUERQUE AP) - Center fielder Patrick Dobson went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs as top-seeded UNLV beat Air Force 10-1 Wednesday in the first round of the Mountain West Conference tournament.

The UNLV Rebels (42 (15)- scored the only runs they would need in the third inning off starter Josh Zumbrun 2 (4)-. Dobson drove in what turned out to be the winning run with a sacrifice fly, capping a two-run drive.

The Rebels added to their lead in the fourth on a bunt single by Eric Nielsen and a homer by Peter White. It was his 10th homer of the season and third off Falcons pitchers this year.

Four consecutive hits by UNLV in the fifth put the score at 7-1. The Rebels finished the game in the eighth with three more runs, including two off of a Dobson double.

UNLV starter Matt Luca 5 (0)- was taken out in the fifth when he walked four batters straight, with the final walk forcing in the Falcons' lone run. Luca surrendered two hits, walked six in all and hit a batter.

Ben Scheinbaum took over in the sixth to earn his second save of the season. He held Air Force 15 (38)- scoreless the rest of the way.

The Rebels on Thursday will meet the loser of Wednesday's Brigham Young-New Mexico game. Air Force will play the loser of Wednesday's San Diego State-Utah game.