UNLV baseball runs out of arms; Aztecs take Mountain West title

UNLV took care of business Saturday afternoon in easily beating San Jose State.

By the time Saturday evening had arrived, however, the Rebels had little pitching left, and now their baseball season is over.

San Diego State broke open a one-run game with five runs in the sixth inning to seize control and defeat the Rebels 14-5 and win the Mountain West tournament championship at its home Tony Gwynn Stadium.

“We were out of pitching, and they were really good,” UNLV coach Stan Stolte said. “So that was the final dagger when they scored five in the bottom of the sixth. San Diego State was the better team and deserved to win this tournament.”

The Aztecs (39-19) clinched the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA regionals. UNLV, which began the season 20-3, finished 35-24.

UNLV made a run at the conference tournament championship, beating San Jose State 9-2 earlier in the game thanks to seven strong innings by Chase Maddux, who allowed one earned run.

“Chase was unbelievable,” Stolte said. “He did a great job, and we played really well for nine innings versus a very improved San Jose team.”

Jack-Thomas Wold went 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs against the Spartans (27-30) and added three RBIs against the Aztecs.

The Rebels took a 4-2 lead over San Diego State in the top of the fourth inning. The Aztecs immediately responded with four runs in the bottom half to go ahead for good.

UNLV used seven pitchers against San Diego State, and they combined to give up 18 hits and 12 earned runs. None lasted more than two innings.

Four Rebels made the all-tournament team — center fielder Kyle Isbel, third baseman Dillon Johnson, Maddux and Wold. San Diego State third baseman/pitcher Casey Schmitt was named tournament MVP.