Nevada baseball falls to Irvine

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

RENO - Ryan Fisher and Scott Gorgen spoiled Nevada's first-ever season-opening home game.

Fisher homered twice and drove in four runs, and Gorgen allowed only one hit over six shutout innings, as UC Irvine blanked the Wolf Pack 6-0 Friday afternoon at Peccole Park.

Weather permitting, the three-game series continues today at noon with Chris Garcia opposing Bryce Stowell. The game was moved up from 1 p.m. because the area is expecting foul weather by late afternoon.

It certainly wasn't the way Nevada coach Gary Powers wanted to see his team open the season, but he was full of praise for Gorgen.

"You can see why he (Gorgen) went 13-2 last year," Powers said. "I tip my hat to him. He pitched a heck of a game in tough conditions. Everytime he made a mistake he would get himself out of trouble.

"He kept the ball low and got groundballs. When he missed, he missed low. Rod (Scurry, Nevada starter) was missing up. He made a couple of big mistakes (to Fisher)."

Five of Irvine's six runs were the result of homers. Scurry, who was tagged with the loss, yielded two to Fisher and freshman Brock Stassi gave up one to Tyler Hoechlin.

It was a case of deja vu for Nevada hitters.

Gorgen struggled at times in last year's 9-1 win over the Pack, and this year he walked six batters in six innings. In both instances, Nevada couldn't come up with a key hit to drive in a run or keep an inning alive. Nevada stranded eight runners and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

"Obviously the weather is a little different, and I couldn't get used to it," said Gorgen, referring to the temperature which was in the mid-40s. "I struggled a little early. I was nibbling too much."

Jason Rodriguez got the only hit off Gorgen. Rodriguez went 2-for-4 and Kevin Rodland went 1-for-3.

"He's pretty good, but he's hittable," Rodriguez said. "He has a good change. It's a tough pitch to hit. We had baserunners in the second, third and fourth (actually in the first, second and third). We just couldn't get them in."

But, as Gorgen was quick to point out, it's nice to have some offensive support behind you, and he had plenty.

Scurry escaped damage in the second after walking two hitters, but had location problems in the third and paid the price for it.

Ollie Linton singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored ahead of Fisher's off-field homer to left-center field. Jeff Cusick followed with a single, Francis Larson walked and Aaron Lowenstein blooped a double just inside the line in right which scored Cusick to make it 3-0. Scurry retired the next two hitters to end the threat.

The Anteaters tacked on two more in the fourth, and Linton again jump-started the rally with a one-out single.

Linton moved to second on Ben Orloff's infield roller and scored on Fisher's second round-tripper of the game. Scurry walked Cusick, but retired Larson to end the inning.

Mike Gillespie, Irvine's first-year head coach, reminded Fisher to tell reporters that the homers were wind-aided.

"They really were," Fisher said. "I've been swinging real well. It just carries I guess. Both pitches were fastballs. One was down the middle and the other middle away. Both were good pitches to hit."

Scurry departed with a 5-0 deficit, allowing five runs and seven hits. He walked two and struck out four.

"I thought he was overthrowing early in the game," Powers said. "He wasn't getting out over his front leg like I know he can and I've seen him do."

Stassi came on in the fifth, and threw 3 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and a solo homer to Hoechlin in the eighth.

Irvine had a chance to extend its lead in the fifth, but Nevada threw two runners out at the plate, one on a suicide squeeze that Shaun Kort made a nice play on.

Nevada threatened in the fifth, but Linton made two sensational back-to-back catches to rob Matt Bowman and Kort of extra-base hits to keep the shutout intact.

"At that time of the game, he stabilized things," Powers said. "He gave us a chance to get back into it. We didn't let it get away from us."

Stassi thought he did OK, but was upset at allowing the homer.

"If you leave pitches up like that, you're going to get beat," Stassi said.

Notes: Former Nevada president Joe Crowley threw out the first pitch to a warm ovation ... Snow flurries started in the seventh inning, but never affected the game ... Leadoff hitter Jason Sadoian went 0-for-4, and three times was called out at first on close plays. Sadoian did take away a double with a nice catch in deep center to end the sixth inning.