MWC: Rebels Avoid Disaster, Dig 2-0 Hole

By Jason Owens - May 24, 2007

Thanks to some poor base-running by TCU, what looked like disaster for UNLV turned into a reasonable 2-0 deficit after the first inning. The game got off to an ominous start for the Rebels when TCU leadoff hitter Clint Arnold crushed a ball over the left-field wall for a 1-0 lead.

Rebel pitcher Kevin Skogley then walked Steven Trout and Keith Conlon followed up with an infield hit. It was looking really bad for UNLV. It managed to get worse though, when Austin Adams hit a double-play ball that shortstop Braden Walker bobbled, allowing Trout to score, leaving runners on first and third with no outs. But when it looked like the floodgates were ready to burst, TCU killed its own momentum.

Andrew Walker hit a sharp groundball to third base that looked like an out at first. But Conlon decided to make a run from third and third-baseman Xavier Scruggs made the heads-up decision to throw Conlon out at home. To make matters worse, Walker decided to make a run for second during the commotion at home, and catcher Michael Brenly threw him out for the double play. So instead of having two base-runners and one out, TCU was left with two outs and a runner on third.

Skogley didn't give TCU any more chances as he struck out Matt Vern to end the inning.