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Show H kit Bird baseballers wind down at home this weekend BY BRENT RICHEY In Gods Country, there are giants in Baseball Land, and SUSC is like grasshoppers in their sight. Well, in Las Vegas, Nev., Tuesday night the Birds put aside thoughts of budget inferiority and went d in a double header with UNLV. The Running Rebels entered the dual vying for a postseason tournament bid, fighting for third place in the Big West. SUSC was just fighting for respect in a baseball world they are no longer a part. e UNLV kept their playoff hopes alive with a sweep, but the Birds found renewed respect, losing However, SUSC had 35 hits, narrowly 10-- 9 and including four home runs, putting on an offensive display. We did everything humanly possible to win those games, said Bird skipper Bill Groves. We went up against the Goliath, and it just wasnt meant to be. The Goliath has some heavy artillery, according to head-to-hea- d 16th-ranke- two-gam- 16-1- Groves, but they also added something the Birds have lacked all year pitching. But UNLV was panicking. This was a scary team, said Rebel Head Coach Fred Dallimore. They never stopped. Since the announcement of the cut, head coaches from other Division I schools have been asking Groves what his team is playing for. They want to prove a point, Groves tells them. Theyre fighters and scrappers, and they just never give up. Against the Rebels The Vegas Connection connected for 15 hits. Vegas hometown boys Gary Reese went 6 for 10, Tom Griffin was 5 for 9 and Barry Whitaker, who only played in the second game, went 4 for 5. In the first game, Kirk Jensen started on the mound left in the third inning, trailing Jim Duckworth provided pitched the rest of the game, and down 10-stable pitching for the Birds to score seven runs. In the top of the seventh Griffin doubled and Steve Hansen singled. Joey Sturges smashed a homer to bring SUSC within a run. Then with the tying run on, the Rebels but 7-- S I HOUS brought in a reliever who struck out three for the save. In the nightcap, Craig Blackham pitched five strong Steve Cude innings and left with the game tied lead. came on in relief and helped the Birds to a Cude lost his concentration, however, when UNLVs homer in the eighth. Bird Rob Murphy hit a three-ruace Kendall Bennett came on in relief with the lead but a Kevin Loftus single tied the game at 15. Loftus is the owner of a hitting streak to lead the nation. in the bottom of UNLV picked up the the tenth. The second game featured two home runs by 'Bird 8-- 15-1- 4 n 40-ga- game-winn- shot by center fielder Bob Sonju and a three-ru- n Griffin. has now lost 16 games by one SUSC, now run. What do you tell the kids? asked Groves. Youre proud, and you love them. Its too bad society dictates record. a teams greatness by its win-los- s Four games remain for the Birds twin bills tomorrow and Saturday hosting U.S. International. 21-3- ' E ?&QDI FOR THE BRIDE WHO WANTS EVERYTHING BE PERFECT, WE OFFER 594 SOUTH MAIN TQa 586-211- 3 UNIQUE WEDDING INVITATIONS AND ACCESSORIES. OUR LOW PRICES WILL SURELY APPEAL TO YOUR BUDGET. COME SEE OUR COLLECTION (Nintendo) NINTENDO ACTION SET EnTERTRinmenT SVSTEm TODAY. WE ALSO HAVE GREAT PRICES ON THESE NINTENDO CASSETTES rollographics West Harding 95 Ave. Cedar City, Utah 84720 FAX |