Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team (8-9) continued its flair for the dramatic at Earl E. Wilson Stadium Tuesday night against the Grand Canyon Antelopes (5-8). Unfortunately, the host Rebels, who tied the game at 8-all in the bottom of the ninth, were on the wrong end of a 10-8 contest that lasted 11 innings.

Tuesday's tilt was the fifth straight that UNLV has played at home that was not decided until the final inning of play. The previous four; however, were won by the Scarlet & Gray.

"This was a very hard fought game by both teams," said head coach Stan Stolte. "We walked too many and we didn't catch the ball when we needed to. We had some great at-bats late in the game where we could have easily rolled over."

The Rebels were paced by three-hit efforts from Ernie De La Trinidad and Payton Squier. The former fell a double shy of the cycle as he contributed a home run, a triple and a single to go along with three runs and two RBI; the latter registered scattered three singles.

UNLV, which jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, had to fight back in the eighth and ninth innings to force extras with four runs, all of which scored after two outs had been recorded in each frame.

Moments after GCU extended its lead to four runs, 8-4, after its half of the eighth, the Rebels countered with a two-out walk by De La Trinidad that was followed by three straight hits by Justin Jones, Max Smith and Cody Howard that cut the deficit to one.

De La Trinidad factored in the Rebels' game-tying run in the ninth with a two-out RBI single. The hit came after Nick Ames extended his at-bat to eight pitches, the last of which was ball four, and Nick Rodriguez hit a single to right field. Austin Anderson had entered the fray to pinch run for Ames prior to Rodriguez stepping into the box, and he came around to score on De La Trinidad's single that bounded up the middle off GCU's Jeramy Smith (1-0).

After a scoreless 10th, the Lopes were able to score twice with help from two hits and an error. They managed to get runners in scoring position with two outs before a walk loaded the bases against Andrew Schultz (0-1). Facing a 2-2 count, Jared McDonald singled through the right side to bring two runs home.

The Rebels were able to get two on in their at-bat with singles from Bryson Stott and Squier. Anderson moved the pair into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, but that was as close as they would get as Smith struck out the final two batters he faced.

UNLV scored once apiece in the first, second, fourth and sixth innings. A groundout by Ames opened the scoring while De La Trinidad added a solo homer in the second for a 2-0 lead. The latter led off the fourth with a triple and came home off a sacrifice fly by Jones. Ames belted a solo shot in the sixth for the fourth tally.

Paul Richy got the start for the Rebels and lasted 4.2 innings. Richy only allowed one hit â€" to the leadoff batter of the game â€" in his first 4.0 innings of work. He was not as lucky in the fifth as he put three on via a hit-by-pitch and a pair of walks. GCU took advantage of the situation and connected on a three-run triple and an RBI double to flip the momentum in its favor.

The Rebel bullpen pitched 6.1 innings of relief and gave up six runs (three earned) off of nine hits. It registered nine strikeouts against three walks.

The Lopes used eight pitchers, in all. Gabe Benavides got the start, but only lasted 2.2 innings after he surrendered two runs (one earned) off of four hits.

The same two teams are back at Earl E. Wilson Stadium Wednesday at 2:05 pm. The day has been billed as "Lunch at the Ballpark," where patrons can show their business card at the gate for free entry while Smoke 'N Sam's BBQ has a $5 lunch special.

NOTES: UNLV is now 20-15-1 all-time against Grand Canyon … The teams have alternated wins and losses in the last six outings … Stott has hit safely in 16 of UNLV's 17 games this season, and is on a five-game hitting streak … Isbel extended his season-best hitting streak to nine games as did Squier (seven games) and De La Trinidad (six) … Three Rebels â€" Stott, Isbel and Squier â€" have all reached base safely in all 17 contests.