Errors costly as Gaels slip past Nevada

RENO — The University of Nevada tied its season-high with four errors and managed just three hits in a 5-2 loss to St. Mary’s College on Tuesday at Peccole Park.

The loss dropped the Wolf Pack to .500 on the season at 24-24 while the Gaels improved to 19-28.

After three scoreless innings, the Gaels collected four hits in the top of the fourth inning to take a lead they would not relinquish 3-0. Pack first baseman Hugo Hernandez committed an error to start the inning that led to all three runs being unearned.

The Gaels scored two more runs in the top of the fifth and were aided by an error on second baseman Scott Kaplan that allowed a fourth unearned to score.

Offensively, Nevada struggled collecting three hits on the day. Back-to-back doubles by left fielder Kewby Meyer and third baseman Brad Gerig in the bottom of the sixth scored Nevada’s first run. Centerfielder Jay Anderson’s ground ball scored Gerig with the Pack’s final run of the game.

Kody Gorden (1-1) suffered the loss allowing three unearned runs on four hits in the fourth inning. Jacob Valdez (1-0) recorded his first win of the season pitching two scoreless innings of one hit baseball.

Christopher Akmon (3-for-4, one run,two RBIs), Collin Ferguson (2-for-5, one run) and Connor Hornsby (2-for-4) had multiple hits for the Gaels as they totaled 10 in the game. Akmon and Ricky Boas each drove in two.

Nevada returns to Mountain West action this weekend hosting the final three home games of the season when intrastate rival UNLV comes to Reno. Friday’s game gets underway at 6 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday’s first pitch set for 1 p.m.

Pack ace Braden Shipley (7-2) takes the mound on Friday while Rebel pitcher Erick Fedde (5-2) gets the start for UNLV.