Final Stats

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -- UNLV baseball (13-19) jumped out to a 5-2 lead over Ohio State (23-7), but the Buckeyes rallied on Friday night at Bill Davis Stadium to win the three-game series opener 6-5.

The game was tied heading to the bottom of the ninth inning, but OSU recorded a lead off double to left center and a a single two batters later to seal the Rebels' fate. It is the third time in the last six games that UNLV has lost by a walk-off hit.

UNLV plated a run in each of the first five innings before its bats went cold. The Rebels notched 10 of its game-high 12 hits before the sixth inning.

The Buckeyes tied the game in the seventh inning after UNLV made a critical error, allowing two runs to score with two outs.

Kenny Oakley (2-3) took the loss after allowing one run on three hits in 2.0 innings of work. He struck out two and walked two in his first appearance since March 28. Starter Ben Wright allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on five hits in 5.0 innings of work. Cody Roper also made a relief appearance where he allowed two unearned runs on zero hits in 1.1 innings.

Edgar Montes led the Rebels from the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Joey Armstrong (2-for-4) and Morgan Stotts (2-for-5) also finished the game with multiple hits.

UNLV and Ohio State will meet in game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 3:05 p.m. ET/12:05 p.m. PT. The Rebels are projected to send D.J. Myers (2-2, 4.37 ERA) to the mound, while the Buckeyes are slated to start Travis Lankins (1-2, 4.02 ERA). The game will be broadcast, for a fee, by the Big Ten Network Plus.