MESA, Ariz. - University of Nevada (35-21-1) freshman right hander Tom Jameson was near perfection in the Wolf Pack's 3-1 Western Athletic Conference elimination game victory over Louisiana Tech (27-30) on Thursday at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz. With the win the Pack will play on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. in another elimination game versus the lowest seed that loses today which could be #6 San Jose State, #4 Hawai`i or #2 New Mexico State but not #1 Fresno State. The Pack lost 6-0 on Wednesday to San Jose State in the first round. A win in tomorrow's first game would have the Pack playing again at 4:00 p.m. versus a yet to be determined opponent.
With today's win the Pack improved to 35-21-1 while the Bulldogs end their season at 27-30. The 35 wins equals the 2007 team as the last 35 win club. The last club to win more than 35 games was the 1999 and 2000 team's that each posted 38 win seasons.
Jameson retired the first 23 hitters of the game before allowing a solo home run with two down in the eighth inning to catcher Clint Ewing and left with the Pack on top 3-1. Coming out to pitch the ninth inning he walked pinch hitter Jonathan Mire and was relieved by closer Tyler Graham. Graham allowed a single to shortstop Ashton Hughes. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position for third baseman Mark Threlkeld but Graham struck him out. The final out of the game was recorded on fly ball to left fielder Waylen Sing Chow who entered the game as a defensive replacement.
The game was scoreless after three innings of play and with two down in the top of the fifth Nevada starting left fielder Nick Melino's home run put the Pack on top to stay 1-0. In the eighth inning second baseman Joe Kohan singled and moved to third on first baseman Shaun Kort's single then scored on a wild pitch and it was 2-0.
LA Tech got the home run from Ewing in the eighth inning to get on scoreboard. Nevada final run of the game came in the top of the ninth inning when designated hitter Brock Stassi walked and pinch runner Jamison Rowe stole second base and came around to score on Melino's single to make the final score 3-1.
Jameson's win was his sixth of the season as he allowed just the one run on one hit and struck out four in eight innings. Graham (10) tied Rico Lagattuta (1995) for the Nevada single season saves record with his 10th today. His 11 career saves now ranks third all-time.
Bulldog starter Mike Jefferson (4-4) was the loser giving up one run on two hits and struck out nine but did walk five.
Melino (2-for-3,R,2RBI) led Nevada with two hits and two RBI. His home run was his seventh of the season. Ewing (1-for-3,R,RBI) drove in LA Tech's lone run with his 11th home run of the season.
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