UNLV tops Nevada Wolf Pack baseball

RENO — After winning the first two games of the Mountain West series, the University of Nevada (15-9, 9-3 MW) baseball team lost 7-3 on Saturday in the series finale to UNLV (22-7, 7-5 MW) at Don Weir Field at Peccole Park before a season-high 1,648 fans.

The MW-leading Wolf Pack is 9-3 in conference play and 15-9 overall. The Rebels improved to 22-7, 7-5.

The Pack scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third inning on RBI singles from Grant Fennell and Michael Echavia. UNLV would score the next seven runs.

Rebel left fielder Grant Robbins hit a two-run homer as part of the three-run fourth inning and first baseman Nick Ames’ three-run homer accounted for all the UNLV runs in the seventh. The Pack scored a run in the eighth inning on an RBI single from Echavia that scored Fennell.

Pack freshman Jake Jackson (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season allowing four runs on seven hits. Rebel starter Chase Maddux (3-3) earned his third victory of the year surrendering two runs on seven hits in six innings on the mound.

Fennell (3-for-3, 2R, RBI) led the Pack with three hits, scored twice and drove in one. Echavia (2-for-4, 2RBI) drove in two of Nevada’s runs. Center fielder Cole Krzmarzick (2-for-3,R) added two hits and scored a run.

Kyle Isbel (2-for-3, 2R), Ames (2-for-3, R, 3RBI) and Robbins (2-for-4, 2R, 2RBI) each had two hits for the Rebels. Ames drove in three and Robbins two with their home runs.

Nevada travels to Corvallis, Ore., to play No. 1 Oregon State (21-4) on Monday and Tuesday at 6:30 and 5:30 p.m.