The University of Nevada baseball team rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat UNLV 5-4 on Sunday in Las Vegas to take the Mountain West series 2-1 from the Rebels.
The Wolf Pack improved to 19-16 overall and 7-8 in MW play, while the Rebels dropped to 23-12 and 8-7 in the conference.
Nevada played Tuesday, hosting UC Davis before taking on MW leading New Mexico (20-16, 11-4) at home starting Friday. Results of Tuesday’s game were not available at press time.
Today’s game was the third of six this season that will help determine the winner of the Governor’s Series presented by NV Energy. The trophy will go to the winner of the all-sports series being contested for the first time this season between the two intrastate rivals.
With the game tied at 3, Nevada got a leadoff triple from first baseman Kewby Meyer to start the ninth inning. The next two Pack hitters were retired before second baseman Scott Kaplan singled off to score Meyer and moved to third on a throwing error. An RBI single by centerfielder Jamison Rowe gave the Pack a 5-3 advantage.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Rebels attempted to rally and did score a run with the benefit of an error. Michael Fain came out of the bullpen to record the final two outs and earn his ninth save.
UNLV scored a run in the first and two in the second off Pack starter Tom Jameson to go in front 3-0. Rebel hurler Kenny Oakley retired the first 12 Nevada hitters of the game, seven via strikeout.
Brooks Klein was the first Nevada base runner, walking to start the fifth and designated hitter Brett Jones’ second home run of the season made it at one-run game at 3-2.
Nevada tied it at three when Jones was credited with a double on a ball that dropped behind third base and left fielder Jay Anderson scored.
Jameson (1-6) won his first game of the season and 20th of his career which is tied for eighth in school history. Jameson struck out a career-high nine and allowed three runs on seven hits in his eight innings. He also moved into fifth in career innings pitched with 293.
Fain tallied his ninth save of the season which is the tied for the fourth best year in school history and is also tied for seventh in a career at Nevada.
Andrew Beresford (5-1) suffered the loss giving up two runs in his 1.1 innings on the mound.
Jones (2-for-4,R, 3RBI) led the Pack offense with two hits and three RBI. Rebel left fielder Joey Swanner (2-for-5,R,2RBI) topped UNLV with two hits and two RBIs.
On Saturday, UNLV won 15-2, while Nevada won Friday’s game, 7-6.