Wilkes’ Three-Run Homer Sparks Las Vegas in Opener

Ted Wilkes’ three-run homer in the eighth inning gave Nevada Las Vegas a 6-3 victory over UC Santa Barbara in the opening game of the Big West Conference baseball tournament Friday at Titan Field.

Wilkes, who played at Laguna Hills High and Saddleback College, got his ninth homer of the season after Kevin Eberwein singled and pinch hitter Henry Jones walked. A balk by relief pitcher John Minton advanced the runners.

“Once they moved to second and third, I was looking for a good pitch to hit and got it,” Wilkes said. “He left the pitch up a little, and I thought it was a good pitch for a sacrifice fly.”

Instead the high fly ball carried over the fence in center. “I was surprised they pitched to him in that situation,” UNLV Coach Fred Dallimore said. “I’m just happy for him, since he grew up almost in the shadow of this yard.”

UNLV’s Tom LaRosa gave up four hits in 7 2/3 innings. Mike Bauder (8-3) got the victory in relief. Bryan Noyes (5-3) took the loss.

UNLV broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth. Brian Anthony singled and moved to third when Gaucho third baseman Lou Tapia made a wild throw on Scott Vincent’s ground ball. Anthony scored on Eberwein’s sacrifice fly.