Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team (1-2) was shut out, 7-0, in the rubber match of its three-game, season-opening series against the No. 23 Texas Longhorns (2-1) Sunday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The home-standing Longhorns scored three early runs to take control of the contest before they added two more in both the fifth and seventh innings.

The Rebels began the affair with their best scoring opportunity by loading the bases with two outs against Texas' starter Connor Mayes. It started with a pair of one-out singles by Kyle Isbel and Payton Squier. Corey Pool followed by grounding into a fielder's choice that forced Isbel out at third base. Nick Ames then showed patience at the plate and walked after a seven-pitch at-bat. Unfortunately, Mayes worked himself out of the jam by inducing a second fielder's choice of the frame.

Texas went ahead for good in its half when Patrick Mathis took the first pitch he saw from Ben Wright (0-1) over the left-center field fence. The Longhorns pushed two more across in the second off a pair of RBI singles from Kody Clemens and Travis Jones.

"Texas was just tougher than us and they played the game better, which I hope we take personally and we will work to change," said head coach Stan Stolte. "It was a very tough series for us to open the year up with and, hopefully, we see what winning baseball is all about. They had numerous two-out RBI hits, while we had very few. That's on both our hitters and pitchers. We had some good things come out of the weekend, and we look forward to getting back at it versus a very good West Virginia team."

In all, UNLV left nine runners on the base paths, five of which were in scoring position. In addition to the three stranded in the first, a pair were left on in both the fourth and sixth, while a single runner on first in the third and sixth.

UT padded its lead in the fifth off RBI singles from Tres Barrera and Kacy Clemens. The pair also had a hand in the final two scores of the contest that took place in the seventh. With two out, Barrera walked and then scored on a double by Michael Cantu. Kacy Clemens immediately followed with a run-scoring single to bring home Cantu to cap the game's scoring.

Mayes struck out three in four innings of work. He gave up four hits and walked three before handing the ball off to teammate Travis Duke (1-0), who picked up the win in one inning of action. Duke partnered with Nick Kennedy, Morgan Cooper and Chase Shugart to toss five scoreless innings with one hit and one walk against five strikeouts.

Wright was tagged with the loss in 4.2 innings of his first start of 2016. He surrendered five runs off of seven hits. He struck out two, but walked three.

UNLV's bullpen tossed the remaining 3.1 stanzas and was touched for two runs and three hits. They combined to strike out three and walk two.

The Rebels return to Earl E. Wilson Stadium for a two-week, six-game homestand that begins Friday, Feb. 26 when the West Virginia Mountaineers (2-1), who won the final two games of their three-game series at Charleston Southern. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm with a ceremonial first pitch thrown by Rebel alumni in conjunction with the celebration of the 50th year of Rebel baseball. Additionally, there will be a tailgate beginning at 4:30 pm with live music after the game. There will also be a t-shirt giveaway, while supplies last. Fans also have the opportunity Friday purchase a ticket, hot dog and drink combination for $8, but it must be bought online and in-advance of the game.

NOTES: In the fifth inning of Sunday's game, UNLV freshman Chase Maddux got Texas' Kody Clemens to groundout to end the frame ... Both Chase and Kody are the sons of Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens, respectively, who combined to pitch 47 professional seasons in the Major Leagues and tally 709 wins and 11 Cy Young Awards.