First-inning frenzy

Thursday, May 27, 2004 | 9:17 a.m.

Since being relegated to the No. 3 seed in the Mountain West tournament upon frittering away a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning at New Mexico Saturday, about all UNLV coach Buddy Gouldsmith has been talking about is how the Rebels couldn't wait to get back on the field.

On Wednesday it showed.

For an inning anyway.

After jumping on sixth-seeded Air Force for eight first-inning runs, the Rebels hit the snooze button. They woke up long enough to score the necessary runs that would hold off the Falcons and avert a first-round disaster, 13-9, at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

Disaster isn't too strong a word in this case because although Air Force didn't play like a 5-48 team that had lost 34 consecutive games, those were the facts before the Falcons stunned Brigham Young 5-3 in Wednesday's late game, sending the Cougars back to Provo.

"No doubt," Gouldsmith said when asked if the game was more difficult than he anticipated in his wildest dream -- or worst nightmare. "It was like they were fighting for their country."

But while the Falcons earned their wings with a gutty effort that saw them outscore the Rebels 9-5 after the first inning, it was UNLV (34-22) that got what it came for, a second-round game against No. 2 seed New Mexico this morning.

"I thought we were in command the whole game," Gouldsmith said in an accurate assessment. "Certainly, they outscored us in the middle innings. But I think our guys got up early and it was tough to sustain the energy they came out with."

They really didn't have to after treating Paul Vignola to a brutal homecoming. Vignola, a Green Valley High graduate who has emerged as the ace of the AFA staff -- or at least its best pitcher -- didn't get out of the first inning. He retired only two men, allowing six hits and six earned runs.

It got so bad for Vignola that at one point he lost his balance and fell off the mound, his pitch rolling to home plate.

Like any true Falcon, he dusted himself off and got right back up. On this day, that might not have been the best idea.

"He's been our guy the last month -- he's pitched better than anybody," Air Force coach Mike Hutcheon said about the decision to start Vignola instead of one of the relief pitchers that held the Rebels' potent bats in check.

"I think maybe he pressed a little bit in front of the home fans. Sometimes that (emotion) works for you and sometimes it doesn't."

But Vignola wasn't only the Falcon who had a rough start. In the top of the first, Reid Lamson was doubled off first on a 400-foot flyout to center field. It was the second sharply hit ball of the inning off Rebels starter Matt Wagner and, given the way the game turned out, might have been a bigger play than it first appeared.

Besdies earning the respect of the small crowd for battling back, the Falcons also earned the praise of their coach.

"Our kids have gone through a lot of adversity all year. For them to stay it in mentally is quite a statement by these guys," Hutcheon said.

It turned out to be such a competitive game that both teams finished with 13 hits. Designated hitter Ryan Bird went 3-for-5 for UNLV while Brent Johnson, Ryan Ruiz and Peter White had two hits each, with White driving in four. Lamson had three hits for the Academy.

On the positive side, Wagner gave the Rebels (34-22) just enough innings in a spot start to take the burden off the bullpen in what could turn out to be a long tournament. He lasted six, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs.

The victory snapped a 13-game Utes losing streak against their bitter in-state rival while handing BYU its initial first-round loss in the tournament's five-year history. Utah advanced to a second-round game against No. 1 seed San Diego State today.

Olson and Jay Brossman had three hits each for Utah while Westfall drove in three runs with two hits and scored twice.

About three hours later, that's just what he got.

After yielding 105 runs to BYU in three consecutive doubleheaders last weekend, Falcons starter Clayton Couch held the Cougars (28-30) to just three Wednesday night, as Air Force (6-48) ended its 34-game losing streak and sent BYU packing.

Couch pitched a complete game, scattering five hits. He struck out seven and walked none.

Brent Tittle and Jason Brown had two hits each to pace Air Force's nine-hit attack off three BYU pitchers.

The Cougars, who were 12-0 against Utah and Air Force during the regular season, lost to both when it counted most to go 0-2 in the tournament for the first time.