Scott regains timing with bat, sparks UNLV to opening win

Two elbow surgeries cost UNLV’s Ryan Scott all of the 2012 baseball season, and the time off seemed to also cost him his swing.

Scott tried to get his timing back during the fall season and even late into the preseason, but couldn’t quite get it.

Not until Thursday, the day before UNLV’s season opener, when Scott took batting practice. His old form seemed to return, and coach Tim Chambers decided to trust the senior by writing his name into the starting lineup.

Scott justified that faith Friday by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, driving in the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning to help lead the Rebels to a 10-9 victory over Tennessee before 1,047 fans at Wilson Stadium.

“We took a shot and went with him tonight,” Chambers said. “It was good for us.”

Scott, a catcher playing designated hitter in this game, hit .306 with 20 RBIs in 2011 before undergoing two surgeries — what he called “Tommy John plus” — on his right elbow.

“I battled the whole fall trying to get my timing back,” Scott said. “It took a lot longer than I thought.”

He said he didn’t feel his swing finally come around until stepping into the batting cage before the game. Then he got off to a strong start against the Volunteers, increasing his confidence heading to the plate in the eighth with one out, the bases loaded and the game tied at 8.

Scott singled in Mark Shannon, helping the Rebels score three runs in the inning to take a 10-8 lead. UNLV closer Zack Hartman allowed a run in the ninth, but picked up the save.

The Rebels rallied from deficits of 2-0, 6-3 and 8-7.

“We haven’t fought back like we did tonight since I’ve been here,” said Chambers, who is beginning his third season. “I was proud of our guys.”

UNLV didn’t play a clean game, however, committing three errors.

There were other miscues, one fairly serious and one easy to laugh off.

Catcher Erik VanMeetren showed up plate umpire Dave Yeast in the fifth by starting to run to the dugout on what he thought was a third strike, third out. Yeast let the transgression go, but ejected VanMeetren the following inning when the catcher insulted the umpire.

“He’s got to grow up that way,” Chambers said of VanMeetren. “The (umpire) gave him a break in the first place. He could’ve (ejected) him if he wanted to early on. (VanMeetren will) learn.”

Also in the sixth, UNLV starting pitcher Erick Fedde struck out Tennessee’s Taylor Smart and sprinted to the dugout because he knew it was the last batter he would face. Then Fedde, who allowed two runs and struck out seven batters in 5 1/3 innings, had to walk back to the mound so Chambers could formally remove him.

“He actually said, ‘I felt like the biggest moron,’ ” Chambers said.

Fedde’s gaffe was part of an opening-night learning experience, and one the Rebels will gladly take with a victory, the first of what they hope is many in a 54-game regular season.

“We battled back,” Scott said. “If we keep that fight up, we’ll have a good year.”

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.