Staff Report
The Wolf Pack is attempting to do something it’s never done — sell out Peccole Park.
Capitalizing from its historic start to the season, Nevada rolled out its #PopulatePeccole campaign last week. For its April 26 game against San Jose State, the Wolf Pack is attempting to fill all 3,136 seats at Peccole Park, in turn making the stadium the 15th largest city in the state. If the way this season is any indication, Nevada will smash the record with ease. The Wolf Pack (23-6, 9-3 Mountain West) won three of five games this past week, pushing into No. 26 in the national rankings out of 295 Division I programs.
After shutting out Sacramento 5-0 on Tuesday, March 24, Nevada trekked to San Jose for a series against the last-place Spartans.
In spite of its record (7-18, 1-8 MW entering the series), San Jose State proved to have fight in them, kinda.
In the opening series, the Spartans shocked the Wolf Pack with a 5-4 victory. The game-deciding run came off a walk-off, bases-loaded hit by pitch. The usually-reliable Nevada closer Adam Whitt beamed San Jose State’s Michael Breen to end the Wolf Pack’s eight-game winning streak.
Nevada returned with a vengeance the following day, demolishing the Spartans 21-1. The Wolf Pack’s eye-popping performance was one for the record books.
Nevada’s 22-run outing and 21-run margin of victory are its best since a 22-0 win over Seattle back on April 17, 2010. The deciding third game was a dogfight before Nevada pulled out a 4-2 win to win its sixth series this year. The team has yet to lose a series this season. First baseman Austin Byler propelled the Wolf Pack, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a RBI and drawing three walks. Trent Brooks was no slouch, either, belting three hits and ringing in two RBI.
Nevada starting pitcher Cameron Rowland got the decision, tossing a staggering 109 pitches in five-and-one-third innings. Rowland allowed just four hits, but walked six. Despite its hot start, the Wolf Pack is still looking up in the league standings. Nevada is currently one game behind conference juggernauts San Diego State (22-6, 10-2 MW).
The Wolf Pack lost 3-0 to Santa Clara yesterday and now turn their attention to UNLV for a pivotal three-game series at Peccole Park. Nevada won the first series, taking two of three games from the Rebels on the road.
UNLV, a former MWC powerhouse, has been on a downward slide this season. The Rebels are 8-20 (2-10 MW) and desperately need a series win to turn their year around.
The sports desk can be reached at euribe@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @SagebrushSports.
