Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team (8-11) suffered a 10-8 loss to the Grand Canyon Lopes (11-10) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium Tuesday. The Lopes scored three runs in the final frame to break open a 7-all tie and handed the Rebels their second straight contest that was decided in the ninth inning.

Austin Anderson led the Scarlet & Gray offensively with three hits, while Kyle Isbel, Payton Squier, Corey Pool and Justin Jones scattered two apiece. Anderson and Squier topped the squad in runs with two, while each knocked in one RBI. Pool, on the other hand, led all with two RBI to go along with one run. Nick Rodriguez had one RBI and one run, while Cody Howard knocked in an RBI and Isbel and Jones scored once.

In the decisive ninth, GCU strung together a three-run, two-hit inning to pull away from the host Rebels. The Lopes loaded the bases with a walk, a single and a one-out hit-by-pitch against Christian Myers (0-1). UNLV wound up making a call to the bullpen and brought in Tevita Gerber, but the reliever allowed a two-run single and a sac fly to Thomas Lerouge and Tyler Wyatt, respectively. Chase Maddux came in and closed out the stanza with a strikeout.

The Rebels were able to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth against GCU closer A.J. Franks; however, the offense was only able to muster one run off of one hit. After the inning began with a strikeout, Jones reached on a single, while Vince Taormina walked on six pitches. With two on, Franks was able to record another strikeout, but faced a bases-loaded situation when his third baseman misplayed a Cooper Esmay ground ball. With the bags juiced, Franks plunked Rodriguez to push across the run. Unfortunately, Franks ended the game one batter later with his third strikeout of the frame.

"That was another game where if we just play tougher and smarter we put ourselves in a better position to succeed," said head coach Stan Stolte. "We don't want to make plays at crunch time, make pitches when we have to and at times it looks like our hitters think an RBI is a negative stat. That being said, we keep battling hard and never quit and with a tougher approach we can turn this thing around against a solid Nevada, Reno team coming in this weekend."

UNLV worked their way back into the affair when it's offense scored five times against GCU's Zebastia Valenzuela in the seventh to draw even at 7-all. Rodriguez and Isbel started the rally with a single and a walk, respectively, before Anderson, Squier and Pool registered three straight RBI singles to pull within two at 7-5. Valenzuela helped the Rebels pull within one when he uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Squier to score from third base. Jaren Drummond (1-0) was then brought into pitch and got two quick outs, but also surrendered an RBI single to Howard that evened the score.

GCU scored the game's first runs in the fourth after it had put runners in scoring position with out. Zach Malis and Brandon Smith notched back-to-back singles and then moved up 90 feet off a sacrifice bunt by Ben Mauseth. With runners on second and third, Griffin Barnes hit an RBI single to right for a 1-0 advantage. Lerouge upped the score to 2-0 when he sacrificed Smith home. The Lopes went ahead by three runs when Malis had an RBI triple in the fifth.

The Rebels were able to score twice in the sixth off GCU starter Jake Wong after he surrendered singles to Anderson and Squier. Those hits ended Wong's day on the mound and brought Valenzuela into the affair. The reliever immediately gave up an RBI single to Pool for one run, while a passed ball allowed Squier to score another.

After seeing UNLV pull within one, the Lopes scored four in the seventh off of three hits and two Rebel miscues.

Drummond earned his first win of the season in two innings of scoreless relief. He struck out one against two hits and one walk. He gave way to Franks who earned the save after he struck out three, but gave up one hit and one run in the ninth.

Myers was saddled with the loss in 1.1 innings of relief work. He surrendered three runs off of two hits and one walk.

Blaze Bohall got the start for UNLV and lasted six innings. Bohall struck out a career-high seven against three runs, six hits and four walks.

UNLV returns to Wilson Stadium for a three-game series against the Nevada, Reno Wolf Pack that is scheduled to begin Thursday at 6:05 pm and continue through Saturday. Game two is Friday evening at 6:05 pm, while the finale is slated for a 2:05 pm first pitch. Not only do these games count towards the Mountain West's standings, but they also are part of the Governor's Series presented by NV Energy and Barrick Gold -- the all-encompassing athletic and academic head-to-head competition between the Silver State's institutions.

NOTES: Squier extended his reached-base streak to 17 games with a pair of singles ... Squier has collected a hit in 17 of UNLV's 19 games this season.