Rebels hit 8 HRs, whip Utes in slugfest

Monday, May 17, 2004 | 8:39 a.m.

With a 10-run lead in the sixth inning of the fourth and final game of a weekend series against Mountain West Conference also-ran Utah, it appeared that garbage time for the UNLV baseball team was fast approaching at Wilson Stadium Sunday afternoon.

But that was only partly true.

The Rebels continued to pile up the runs, which was fine with coach Buddy Gouldsmith. But once they got into their bullpen, they also began to give them up in bunches.

With the postseason just 10 days away, where pitching depth is usually more important than the long ball, that didn't sit as well with UNLV's first-year coach.

"We've really swung the bats well. But the times we don't have the kind of games we're looking for is when we don't pitch," Gouldsmith said after the Rebels got done padding their batting averages and paddling the Utes' pitching staff, 24-10.

"That's the one thing, even in this game, that's still a concern. Out of the bullpen late we gave up a lot of runs. I wanna see those guys in those roles pitch better, regardless of whether we score 24 runs or four runs. That's what we've got to have."

Of course, based on the way the Rebels (32-20, 19-8) are swinging the bats, it might take somebody like Nolan Ryan to hold them to four runs. They had six by the third inning Sunday and 11 by the fifth, as 10 of their first 11 runs were a result of home runs.

By the time batting practice ended, UNLV had 24 runs, 22 hits, eight home runs -- and control of its destiny in the quest to clinch the top seed in next week's MWC tournament on their home diamond. The Rebels have a one-game lead on New Mexico, where they will finish the regular season with a three-game series this weekend.

"It would have helped had we been able to win that nightcap (Saturday) night and put a little more distance between ourselves and New Mexico," Gouldsmith said in reference to an 11-7 defeat, the Rebels' only loss in six outings against the Utes (21-31, 11-16) this year.

"That's why winning this weekend is so important. The important thing is getting that No. 1 seed in the (conference) tournament and staying in the winners' bracket. That gets you the bye and shortens up the pitching you have to have. Because I really feel like our three starters (David Seccombe, Jake Vose and Matt Luca) can compete with anybody.

"The face that we start Matt Luca on Sunday has got to be discouraging for most teams."

Luca, a lanky 6-foot-6 right-hander who was 5-0 as a freshman last year, picked up his first victory in seven starts on Sunday. He pitched six solid innings, allowing three runs and scattering nine hits while walking only one and striking out six to improve his record to 6-5.

His command was much better than in a 14-8 loss to San Diego State last Sunday although it really didn't have to be, not when your teammates are launching baseballs off the scoreboard screen and beyond.

With the win blowing out to left-center field, the Rebels teed off like John Daly on a par-5 with wide fairways.

Right fielder Eric Nielsen walloped two three-run homers, his 13th and 14th of the year, while first baseman Eddie Gill went deep twice and drove in five. Brent Johnson, Brad Ross, Andrew DeAngelo and Johnny Uriegas also homered for UNLV.