Simas says: Three-run bomb paces Pack to win

Simas says: Three-run bomb paces Pack to win

The Nevada baseball team's largest crowd of the season - 1,390 - saw the Wolf Pack earn a 12-11 victory over first-place Fresno State in a Western Athletic Conference victory Sunday at Peccole Park.

Nevada junior catcher Travis Simas connected on a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to improve the Pack to 12-8 in the WAC and 25-18 overall.

The Bulldogs fell to 14-6, 26-20.

The second-place Wolf Pack won three of four games over Fresno, which lost its first conference series of the season.

Nevada reliever Jacob Kaup (1-0) earned his first victory of the season, retiring one batter in the top of the eighth inning and Rod Scurry, in his first career relief appearance, earned his first save after retiring the side in the ninth.

Fresno State reliever Jason Breckley (1-1) took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in 2 1Ú3 innings.

After the Bulldogs scored five unearned runs in the top of the eighth to take an 11-8 lead, Dayton High School graduate Matt Bowan led off the bottom of the frame with a double.

Two Pack outs later, Bowman was on third when Mike Hale drove him in with a single.

Designated hitter Terry Walsh followed with a single before Simas - hitting .188 - drilled a shot over the left-field fence to give the Pack the lead.

Nevada held a 5-1 lead after two, with center fielder Jason Sadoian (4-for-5, three RBI) and Jason Rodriguez each contributing RBI doubles.

Fresno's Ryan Overaland later hit a three-run to shot to close the gap to 7-6 in the fifth.

Nevada led 8-6 before Fresno's five-run eighth.

Sadoian's four hits tied his career high. Three of those hits were doubles.

Nevada returns to action with a four-game WAC road series against Louisiana Tech beginning Friday.