Wolf Pack change approach, snap five-game losing streak

RENO " Tyson Jaquez noticed a different look in the eyes of his Nevada Wolf Pack teammates Saturday afternoon at Peccole Park.

"Coach (Gary Powers) talked to us last night and before the game today," the Wolf Pack senior said. "Everyone came out with a different demeanor and more intensity and focus. And look what happened."

What happened was a 3-2 Wolf Pack victory over the Washington Huskies, snapping a five-game losing streak.

"That's the way this game is," said Powers, whose club improved to 3-7 on the year. "It's amazing how one day can be so much different."

Much of the difference can be attributed to Powers' message to his team after Friday's 11-2 loss to the Huskies.

"You could see the difference," Powers said. "This was a totally different team today from yesterday. Everyone had a much more competitive approach to the game."

Sammy Miller retired three hitters in a row with a runner on second and no outs in the ninth for his second save of the season. Miller fanned Jake Rife and Andy Bethel for the first two outs after Brett Wilcox doubled off the glove of Pack right fielder Brett Hart to open the inning. Pierce Rankin then singled to deep in the hole between short and third but Pack shortstop Kevin Rodland alertly fired the ball to Jaquez at third, who put the tag on pinch-runner Brendan Gardner-Young for the final out of the game.

"We talk a lot about how this is a game of second chances and second opportunities," Powers said. "He (Rodland) couldn't get the out on the first opportunity but he knocked the ball down, stayed with it, recognized the second opportunity and made the play."

Rodland also had three hits and drove in the Pack's first run of the game with a single in the third inning for a 1-0 lead.

"Both Kevin and (third baseman Tyson Jaquez) made a great play on that ball," said Miller, who got the final four outs of the game to save the victory for starter Brock Stasis (2-1). "He (Rodland) saw that the runner thought the ball was going through (to left field). That was a real head's-up play."

Miller also worked out of a jam in the eighth, getting Doug Cherry to bounce out to Rodland with runners on first and second to end the inning.

"Closing is a thrill, an adrenaline rush," said Miller, who had one save in 19 appearances last year. "I love it. Every situation is different."

Washington, now 5-6, took a 2-1 lead on a run-scoring triple by Andy Bethel in the fifth and a solo homer by Ty Rasmussen in the sixth. Jaquez, though, put the Pack back in front, 3-2, with a two-run, opposite-field blast to right field for his first home run of the year.

"I knew I hit it good," said Jaquez, who led the Pack with nine homers last year. "It was just a changeup on the outer half (of the plate). I just told myself, 'Sit back and get a good swing on it.'"

The Wolf Pack, Powers said, showed some signs of breaking out of its season-long hitting slump. The Pack came into the game hitting just .216 as a team, averaging 3.5 runs a game.

"If you keep working at it and keep competing at the plate, things will turn around," Powers said. "There was much more fight in us at the plate (on Saturday). We need to continue to do that."

Stassi, who lasted just two innings in his last start on March 1 against San Diego, went 6.2 innings to beat Washington. The sophomore left-hander is now 6-3 in his Pack career.

"I thought my command was pretty good in the beginning of the game," said Stassi, who fanned four and allowed seven hits. "Last time I didn't throw too many innings so I felt good this time."

Stassi said he also noticed a different mindset in the Pack dugout.

"Everybody was really into the game," he said. "All the guys on the bench were cheering and into it. I think that really helped us."

The Wolf Pack now leads its all-time series with Washington, 6-2. The Pack, which swept Washington in a three-game series at Peccole Park in 1996, last played the Huskies in 2000 in Phoenix. This weekend's series will conclude with a 1 p.m. game today.

"This was big for us," Jaquez said. "Now we need a couple more (victories) to really get on a roll. Winning a series against a good Pac-10 team would mean a lot."