Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team (3-2) knocked off the No. 7 Cal State Fullerton Titans (2-3), 6-1, Friday night to open the three-game series at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Rebels got 5.1 scoreless innings from starting pitcher Alan Strong (2-0) as well as a three RBI from Bryson Stott to defeat the nationally ranked Southern California ball club.

UNLV broke the game open in the third inning with four runs off of four hits and some help from a defensive miscue. Nick Rodriguez and Keyon Allen got the frame started with a double and a sacrifice bunt that allowed the later to reach safely due to an errant throw to first base. With both in scoring position, Stott hit a hard grounder to the right side for two runs. Payton Squier followed that at-bat with a double down the line in left to place two more in scoring position. Nick Ames and Cooper Esmay followed with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, respectively, to cap the scoring.

Stott was responsible for the Rebels' fifth run when he knocked Rodriguez in, once again, with an RBI single. Rodriguez reached to batters earlier with a one-out single.

The Scarlet & Gray upped its lead to six off an RBI single from Kyle Isbel, which scored Justin Jones from second. Jones led off the frame with a single before swiping second to get into scoring position.

Fullerton's only run came off a one-out solo home run by Ruben Cardenas in the eighth.

Strong fanned six and only allowed four hits to the Titans in the affair en route to his second win as a Rebel. He struck out one batter in each stanza and had two in the fifth alone.

Tevita Gerber relieved Strong on the mound in the sixth with a two-on, two-out situation. The reliever was able to get a pair of fly outs to left to end the inning. Gerber pitched into the ninth and left the contest after throwing 2.2 innings. He struck out one, but allowed one run off of two hits and three walks.

Bryan Menendez entered the affair in the top of the ninth with two on and promptly induced a 4-6-3 double play. With the lead runner advancing to third, he managed to leave him there when he got a 6-3 putout to end the contest.

Connor Seabold (1-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs (two earned) off of 10 hits. Seabold struck out four, but walked two.

UNLV and Fullerton resume play Saturday afternoon at 2:05 pm at Wilson Stadium. The first 150 fans through the gates will receive a free Rebel Baseball blanket while those that stick around after the conclusion of the game can watch "Field of Dreams" on the field.

Tickets can be purchased online and in-advance for $5 at UNLVTickets.com. Tickets purchased at the gate are $8 for adults, $6 for senior/faculty/staff, while kids 12 and under as well as UNLV students are free of charge.

NOTES: Friday's victory is the first over a team ranked 10th or higher since UNLV defeated No. 5 Arizona State, 7-6, on April 15, 2015 ... With Friday's win, UNLV has three triumphs in six tries over top-25 opposition dating back to game one of the 2015 season, which includes wins over No. 23 Texas (three-game series) and No. 22 Texas Tech (two) in 2015 ... UNLV has defeated Fullerton two times in a row dating back to a 2-0 victory on April 24, 2016, a contest that was played at Fullerton.