Monday, April 29, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Every one of Mike Bauder's pitches was a like brush stroke.
Placing the ball wherever he wanted whenever he wanted, the Western High alum scattered four hits and allowed no earned runs Sunday in UNLV's 5-1 victory to complete a three-game sweep of Nevada-Reno at Wilson Stadium.
"The art of pitching was seen here at Earl Wilson Stadium," Rebel coach Fred Dallimore said.
The sweep, combined with three San Jose State losses, clinched a Big West Tournament slot for the second straight season.
Heading into its final three games at New Mexico State starting Friday, UNLV is in a three-way tie for second place in the conference with Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara at 12-6. UNR is 24-18, 5-13.
With the wind stiffly blowing at his back, Bauder struck out six and walked two in his first complete game at the collegiate level. He did not yield two hits in an inning and didn't allow hits in consecutive innings until the eighth and ninth.
"Today was Mike Bauder's day," Dallimore said. "He had good stuff and distracted them, threw off their rhythm and timing. He was throwing the pitches he needed for strikes."
Even balls that didn't go over the plate turned out to be strikes. After giving up a two-out, ground-rule double to Glen Carson in the top of the ninth inning, Bauder bore down and struck out Tim Hanna to end the game.
"I'm glad he swung because it was a ball," Bauder said of the final pitch.
Throwing in front of a strong family contingent against UNLV's arch rival, Bauder never felt the pressure.
"It's definitely the best game I've ever thrown since I've been here," he said. "When the wind's blowing in like this, all you gotta do is throw strikes.
"All my pitches I threw for strikes, my changeup, curve. Even if I'd get behind 2-0 I could throw a curve and it was over. I had a lot of confidence in my curveball.
"Once I get into a flow it just takes over."
Offensively, the Rebels took advantage of six Wolf Pack errors. UNLV scored a pair of runs in the first inning on infield errors and balk by UNR pitcher Matt Wells with runners on first and second.
Wells allowed his only two earned runs of the game in the third inning. He hit Kevin Eberwein before giving up a double to Brian Anthony. Scott Vincent grounded out to score Eberwein and Sean Campbell knocked in Anthony with a sacrifice fly.
UNLV added its other run in sixth when Campbell, who doubled, scored on UNR third baseman Chris Kahl's third error of the game.
After the Rebels finish their regular-season schedule next weekend at New Mexico State, they go to Cal State Fullerton for the Big West Conference Tournament May 10-12.
Around the horn
* LOTS OF LASTS: Prior to the game, Rebel seniors Brian Anthony, Chad Barry, Fred Koehne, Zac Miller, Scott Vincent and Ted Wilkes were honored for playing their final games at Wilson Stadium. "All those guys have been central to our success," coach Fred Dallimore said. "It's been a lot of fun coaching them." ... Sunday's game was the last Big West Conference contest at Wilson Stadium. It also was the last conference game between UNLV and UNR in any sport. UNLV moves into the Western Athletic Conference in the fall.
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