By BRIAN TYNES

News Editor

Junior infielder Ryan Hamilton extended his hitting streak to 14 games, but it was not enough to lift the Bulldogs (11-20, 3-6 WAC) over Nevada (15-10, 4-2 WAC) last weekend.

The Wolfpack swept the three-game series and extended their winning streak over Tech to 11 games, and they have won every series since Tech joined the Western Athletic Conference.

"Either they match up well with us or we don't match up well with them," Tech head coach Wade Simoneaux said. "Last year we found out they had our signs, and we had to do some things to change that up. We played them a lot closer this year. Last year we didn't have a chance against them, and the scores were out of sight."

In the first game last Thursday, it appeared that Nevada's run totals would rival those of last year's 13, 15 and 27 when they scored 11 runs on 12 hits. Three Tech errors contributed as well.

Tech tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run off the bat of senior Brandon Haygood.

But Nevada rattled off nine runs in the next four innings, capped off by a two-run blast by Ben Mummy off freshman pitcher Aaron Lorio with two outs in the top of the seventh.

Tech added one run in the eighth inning and two in the ninth but was unable to overcome the deficit and dropped the contest 11-5.

Nevada's Ryan Rodriguez struck out the first two batters he faced in the second game last Friday, but a pass ball on a third strike allowed freshman Adam Cobb to reach first base. Hamilton followed with a home run to give Tech its only lead of the series.

"Hamilton has really come on for us," Simoneaux said. "Ben Tabor has had a couple of good weeks for us too, and that's our three and four-hole hitters."

Nevada cut the lead in half in the second inning when Shawn Scobee homered to right-centerfield.

Tech maintained the advantage until the top of the fourth, when one error, two walks and three Wolfpack hits provided a five-run inning.

Freshman Brian Rike drove in himself and sophomore Brady Bascle with a home run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 6-4.

Tech added a run in the fifth, but Scobee homered again for Nevada in the eighth to close out the scoring.

Freshman pitcher Andrew Lassere started the final game Saturday for Tech and allowed back-to-back home runs with two outs in the first inning to Mummy and Scobee after overthrowing first base for what would have been the second out.

"Lassere was one of the top left-handed recruits out of the state of Louisiana and has really pitched well for being a true freshman," Simoneaux said. "He had a throwing error that cost him three runs -- probably cost him the win -- and he knows it. But freshmen will be freshmen, and he's just got to grow up."

Lassere was pulled from the game in the fifth after allowing another home run, this one to Jacob Butler, but otherwise had a good day with three strike outs and no walks.

Tech was able to cut the deficit to one run in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Tabor led off the inning with a home run to right field. Hamilton doubled and later scored on a wild pitch, and senior Gil Laird scored on a single by sophomore Brandon Hudson, who was pinch-hitting for freshman catcher Jonathan Yerby.

Tech threatened to tie the game in the seventh with Tabor on second, but he was unable to advance. It was the last time Tech had runners in scoring position.

Simoneaux said Tech's defense regressed this week after several solid performances.

"We had a streak of four games without an error," Simoneaux said. "But our errors are silly errors and correctable errors. We've just got to value every pitch, every inning and every game we play. We can't underestimate who we're playing."

But despite the setback, Simoneaux is still optimistic about Tech's chances at a conference championship.

"I don't want to give in until we are mathematically out," Simoneaux said. "Any team in this league that wins two out of three every weekend has a chance to win this conference. If you look at the standings right now, the best team is 6-3, the worst team is 3-6 and the whole league is log-jammed in the middle. So each weekend is huge."