Nick Grunenwald

March 21, 2008

RENO, Nev. - For the second straight night, Louisiana Tech could not find its offensive groove and gave up a season-high 18 hits to Nevada in a 14-3, seven-inning loss at Peccole Park. The game was called after a walk-off two-run Wolf Pack home run in the seventh due to the WAC's institution of a 10-run rule for conference games this season.

Tech (13-8, 0-2 WAC) only managed four hits in the contest and equaled a season-worst with 13 strikeouts on the night. Worse still, 11 of 18 hits for Nevada (10-8, 2-0 WAC) went for extra bases, including three home runs. Nevada scored at least one run in every inning, and it marked Louisiana Tech's sixth loss in its last seven trips to Peccole Park, including two losses in last year's WAC Tournament.

Nick Grunenwald had the majority of what little offense Tech could muster with three of the Bulldogs' five hits on the night, including a two-run home run - his third of the season - in the third inning. The junior shortstop also drove in all three Bulldog runs. Adam Cobb and Drew Bunting had the other two base knocks for the Bulldogs.

Alan Knotts (2-1) got his first loss of the season as he had his most difficult outing thus far in 2008. He gave up eight runs (five earned) on nine hits in 3.1 innings of work. John Anderson struck out four of the first five batters he faced, but only managed one more punchout in his three-plus innings, giving up six earned runs on nine hits.

For the Wolf Pack, it was a much different story. Six of Nevada's starters had multi-hit nights, led by left fielder Matt Bowman (4-for-5, three runs, two RBI) who finished a triple shy of the cycle. Jason Rodriguez continued his hot hitting with another three-hit effort, and Shaun Kort, Mike Hale, Kevin Rodland and Travis Simas had two hits apiece.

Nevada ace Rod Scurry (3-2) got the victory with five solid innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out nine Bulldogs.

The Wolf Pack struck first with two out in the opening frame. Rodriguez ripped a double to the wall in left center and scored on a seeing-eye single through the right side to give Nevada a 1-0 lead. UNR would build on that lead in the second as Hale led off with a double to the wall, followed by a triple from Simas to make it 2-0. Nick Leid would single him in for a 3-0 lead.

Tech would cut into the lead when Patrick Thomas walked to bring up Grunenwald, who ripped a 2-2 pitch over the left-center wall to pull the Bulldogs within a run. But that was as close as they would get the rest of the night as Nevada answered with a leadoff homer of their own from Bowman in the bottom of the third, pushing the lead to 4-2. An error at first base with two out kept the Wolf Pack at the plate, and they made Tech pay with three more runs to extend their lead to 7-2.

Tech would attempt to mount a comeback in the fourth when, with two out, Grunenwald singled to right field to bring in Bunting from third to make it 7-3. But that would be all for the Bulldogs, even though they loaded the bases an inning later.

Nevada got another in the fourth on the strength of back-to-back doubles, making it 8-3 and chasing Knotts from the game. But Anderson would strike out the next two hitters to get out of the jam.

Three straight hits in the fifth - again with two outs - gave Nevada a 9-3 lead. It would get out of hand in the sixth with a three-run homer from Rodland, scoring Hale and Walsh to push the lead to 12-3. Shaun Kort would then send the Peccole Park crowd of 720 home early with a two-run home run in the seventh to invoke the mercy rule at 14-3.

The Bulldogs will look to salvage a split with a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m. Central time at Peccole Park. Tech has slightly altered its pitching rotation for tomorrow with Luke Burnett (0-1, 8.31) will get the ball in game one, and Jericho Jones (4-1, 4.70) gets the starting nod in game two. Fans can catch all the action on ESPN 97.7 FM (online at www.espn977.com) as Dave Nitz has the call of both games. Live stats will be available through both www.latechsports.com and www.nevadawolfpack.com.