Sports briefs for February 7, 2005

Monday, Feb. 7, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.

Rebels rout Northridge for first win of season

The UNLV baseball team ended a season-opening two-game losing streak in a big way Sunday, rapping out 15 hits in a 19-9 rout of Cal State Northridge at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

After scoring six runs and leaving a combined 30 men on base in theirfirst two games of the season, the Rebels' offense came alive in the opening inning, scoring four runs.

UNLV's bats never let up and the Rebels picked up their first win of the season, improving to 1-2. CSUN lost for the first time of the year, falling to 2-1-1.

Errors cost the Matadors throughout the game, as 10 of the Rebels' 19 runs scored were unearned.

UNLV hits the road for the first time this season this coming weekend, as the Rebels play a three-game set with perennial power Texas on Feb. 11-13.

Sharapova ranked 3rd

Reigning Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova beat No. 1 Lindsay Davenport 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5) in the Pan Pacific Open final at Tokyo Sunday and moved up to a career-high third in the WTA Tour rankings. Sharapova prevented Davenport from winning a record fifth title at the indoor tournament. Davenport, who lost to Serena Williams in the Australian Open final last weekend, hit 13 aces against Sharapova but needed a medical timeout after the first set because of a sore left thigh. Sharapova surpassed Amelie Mauresmo in the new rankings jumping from No. 4 to No. 3 and trails only Davenport and Williams. "My job is to go out and perform well," Sharapova said. "I have no timetable to become No. 1 in the world. If it happens, it happens."

Wie in British Open

Michelle Wie will play in this year's Women's British Open, the Ladies Golf Union said today. The 15-year-old Wie accepted a special exception from the LGU to play at the July 28-31 event at Royal Birkdale. "We have followed Michelle's development over the last two years with great interest and admiration and in particular her performance in major championships," LGU chief executive Andy Salmon said. "We have no doubt that she is ready to compete with the world's best players at Royal Birkdale." Wie is one of five amateurs given exemptions to appear in the 144-player field.