Home runs are to baseball what erasers are to pencils. They eliminate the mistakes.
UNLV pounded out four erasers Tuesday, including its second grand slam in as many days, to scratch out a poor performance from its bullpen and beat Loyola Marymount 12-8 at Wilson Stadium.
UNLV, ranked 21st in the nation by USA Today, is now 32-11 after the non-conference, two-game sweep. Loyola is 12-27, but nearly pulled off the upset.
"This game never should have been that close," UNLV coach Fred Dallimore said. "We lost our intensity."
Three Rebel relievers -- Chad Barry, Fred Koehne and Trista Perri -- gave up six runs in the seventh and eighth innings, allowing the Lions to tie the score at 8.
But UNLV catcher Stacy Kleiner erased any thought of a Loyola win with a three-run home run down the left-field line off reliever Dylan Sugar (2-1).
One batter later, Kevin Eberwein sent one over the fence in deep left-center to complete the scoring.
Rebel closer Rob Luce (6-1) recorded the final four outs for the victory.
"Even though we coasted there for a little while, everybody knows we're going to win," said Scott Vincent, who hit his second grand slam and 11th home run of the season in the first inning. "Someone's going to come through.
"Everybody's seeing the ball well. No one's an easy out. Not even Kleiner."
Kleiner, Eberwein and Vincent, Nos. 5-7 in UNLV's batting order, went a combined 8 for 12 with seven runs scored, 10 RBI and three home runs.
Despite only two hits, seven Rebels reached base in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Chris Adolph reached on an infield error and was followed by Paul Tanner's single. Adolph was thrown out trying to steal third base, while Tanner advanced to second on the throw.
Ryan Hankins was hit by a pitch and then forced out at second when Brian Anthony, who cranked Monday's grand slam, hit into a fielder's choice to place runners at the corners. Kleiner walked to load the bases then Eberwein got plunked, sending Tanner home and keeping the bases loaded for Vincent's blast.
No. 9 hitter Ted Wilkes led off the second inning with his seventh home run of the year, making the score 6-0.
Lost in the shuffle was UNLV starter Bill Scheffels, who would have received his second victory against no losses if not for the bullpen blunders. In five innings the sophomore right-hander allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out five and lowered his his ERA 1 1/2 points to 8.48.
Loyola starter Sandor Demosthanes, a graduate of Reno's Hug High, struggled. He gave up six earned runs on four hits, one walk, two hit batters and a wild pitch in two innings. At 5-4, he is the only Lion starter with a winning record.
Around the horn
* HANKINS HOBBLED: Ryan Hankins got beat up in his first plate appearance Tuesday. In the bottom of the first, the Rebel third baseman fouled a pitch off the inside of his left ankle. The game was stopped for five minutes while Hankins and a UNLV trainer tried to determine if he could continue. Limping badly, Hankins stayed in only to foul another pitch off the same spot. His plate appearance ended when Loyola Marymount starter Sandor Demosthenes hit him with a pitch. Hankins, hitting just below .400, had trouble putting weight on his ankle and left the game in the third inning with a severe bruise. He is likely to play this weekend at UC Santa Barbara.
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