'Little things' haunt Rebels against UCLA

Rod Soesbe does not believe in moral victories, but the UNLV head baseball coach nonetheless was upbeat after the Rebels' 6-5 loss to third-ranked UCLA Sunday afternoon at Wilson Stadium.

Although the Rebels dropped the final two games of the three-game series to the Bruins, Soesbe realized his team was a baserunning mistake and a missed sign away from taking two of three from UCLA.

"It's a step up for us in the fact that we know we can play with anybody in the country," Soesbe said. "Sometimes, it's just the way the ball bounces a couple of times."

After losing 10-1 to the Bruins on Saturday, UNLV came back Sunday and held its guest to two runs on six hits through five innings and held a 3-2 advantage going into the sixth on the strength of a two-run home run by catcher Harold Betts.

UCLA (6-1) erupted for four runs in the sixth and took a 6-3 lead before the Rebels pecked away with single runs in the sixth and seventh to make it a one-run game.

UNLV (3-5) squandered a chance to tie the score in the eighth after third baseman Clay Belding walked with one out. Belding stole second and tried to advance to third when the throw from UCLA catcher Forrest Johnson sailed into center field. But a picture-perfect throw from center fielder Matt Pearl nailed Belding at third.

Garett Shitanishi led off the bottom of the ninth by reaching first on a fielding error. After two unsuccessful bunt attempts by Adam Manley, Soesbe called off the bunt, but Manley missed the sign and struck out attempting to lay down a bunt with two strikes.

Tony DeMarco gave the Rebels a ray of hope when his bloop single to center advanced Shitanishi to third. But Nate Kaup grounded into a game-ending double play.

"Those are the little things we've got to do better," Soesbe said of the mental lapses. "But I was happy with the way the kids played and the pitching is really coming on. That was a good offensive ballclub that they faced and our pitching was good all weekend."

Even in Saturday's 10-1 loss, the Rebels held UCLA to one run through five innings before surrendering four in the sixth -- as they did Sunday.

UNLV starter Luke Anderson gave up five runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, but C.J. Martin, Donnie Watts and Andy MuCulloch held UCLA to one run on six hits over the final 3 2/3 innings.

The Rebels conclude their homestand with 3:05 p.m. games Tuesday and Wednesday against Lewis-Clark State.

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