Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team (7-8 overall, 2-2 Mountain West) overcame some late-inning woes to claim its third straight home victory Saturday; albeit, in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion, once again. The Rebels, who had previously registered wins at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in this stretch via a walk-off home run and a sacrifice fly, loaded the bases in the ninth and were able to plate two off a one-out throwing error to cap the 6-5 rally over the Air Force Falcons (6-8, 0-5 MW).

The Scarlet & Gray's Tucson tandem of Nick Ames and Max Smith has had a lot of input in the outcomes of the aforementioned three games. Ames hit a walk-off, three-run home run against UC Riverside (March 1) and got Saturday's rally started with a one-out walk. Smith, on the other hand, helped UNLV to a 10-9 Friday with a game-ending sacrifice fly.

Moments after seeing its one-run lead erased in the top of the ninth inning by a pair of runs off a triple and a sacrifice fly, UNLV countered with Ames' walk as well as singles from Nick Rodriguez and Ernie De La Trinidad in succession.

With the bases loaded and one out, Justin Jones hit a grounder to Air Force second baseman Shaun Mize, who fielded the ball cleanly, but threw wildly to shortstop Tyler Zabojnik running in to cover second base. Allen and Rodriguez were able to score with ease once the ball flew into left field.

UNLV pushed ahead 4-0 with two runs in both the first and second innings. Rodriguez and Ernie De La Trinidad were responsible for the first two scores that resulted from a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single. Ames followed an inning later with a two-run single after his teammates had loaded the bases.

The Falcons fought back into the affair with two runs in the fifth off consecutive run-scoring hits from Drew Wiss and Mize. They pulled within one in the eighth with some help of two throwing errors that happened on one play.

Air Force was able to eventually tie and lead UNLV in the top of the ninth off an RBI triple and sacrifice fly by Ashton Easley and Russell Williams, respectively.

UNLV's Tevita Gerber (2-3) picked up his second win in the series off 1.0 inning of work. Gerber had entered in the top of the ninth with a save opportunity; however, a Rebel defensive miscue altered his outing on the mound. Both runs Air Force scored in the ninth were unearned.

Larry Quaney got the start for UNLV and left the affair with a 4-2 lead after he threw the initial 6.2 innings. Quaney struck out two against two runs, 10 hits and two walks.

The Falcons' Nathan Stanford (0-1) was saddled with the loss in 1.1 innings of relief. Stanford allowed two runs (one earned) off of two hits and one walk.

Nick Biancalana got the start for Air Force, but only lasted 1.2 frames as he was roughed up for four runs (three earned) off three hits and four walks.

The Rebels and Falcons close out their Mountain West series with an afternoon matinee Sunday. First pitch is at 1:05 pm.

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: UNLV improved to 7-1 when it scores seven or more runs … UNLV improved to 3-2 when it scores in the first inning and evened its mark at 4-4 when it scores first … Saturday's win marked the first instance that UNLV had been victorious when it has been outhit by its opponent … Stott has hit safely in 14 of UNLV's 15 games this season and has a team-high 10 multiple-hit games with the addition of Saturday's two-hit outing … Ames has hit safely in 13 of 14 games he has played in this year, and six of those have resulted in multiple-hit contests … Isbel extended his season-best hitting streak to seven games with help from a hit Saturday … Three Rebels â€" Stott, Isbel and Squier â€" have all reached base safely in all 15 contests.