Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team began its four-game homestand Thursday night with a 7-3 win over the San Diego State Aztecs at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Rebels broke open a 2-all affair with five unanswered runs, four of which came off a trio of home runs, en route to the four-run victory in extremely windy conditions. Additionally, Alan Strong and Larry Quaney combined to strike out seven and limit the Aztecs to three runs.

The Scarlet & Gray's Kyle Isbel, Payton Squier and Bryson Stott had two hits apiece in the affair to lead the squad. Isbel smashed a pair of home runs to register three RBI and two runs. Squier also had a pair of extra-base hits -- a solo homer and a double -- to go along with two runs and one RBI. Stott scattered a pair of singles -- one of which was of the two-run variety.

"This was a much-needed win against a good, solid team," said head coach Stan Stolte. "Strong did a nice job leaving with the lead, and Quaney did a great job pounding the zone and taking it home. Isbel, Squier and Stott had some good at-bats to give us some cushion. The three double plays we turned were the difference in the game on a night like this."

The Rebels opened the scoring in the second inning when Justin Jones, Cody Howard and Stott connected on three straight singles. Stott's base hit brought Jones home for the game's first run while teammate Nick Ames followed that at-bat with an RBI groundout to plate Howard.

SDSU pulled even half an inning later off a two-run homer from Alan Trejo after teammate David Hensley led off the third with a single.

UNLV regained the lead in the bottom of the third when Isbel and Squier blasted back-to-back home runs of SDSU starter Jorge Fernandez (0-1).

The Rebels were able to put some breathing room between themselves and the Aztecs with three runs in the fifth. Nick Rodriguez led off with a triple to deep left-center field and wound up scoring one pitch later when Isbel took SDSU reliever Cody Thompson deep to center for his second dinger of the game.

Squier kept the fifth going after Thompson walked him on five pitches. He came around to score later in the stanza off a fielder's choice by Stott.

Strong (4-3) threw the first five innings for the Rebels and allowed two runs off of five hits while striking out five against three walks. He gave way to Quaney who earned a save (1) with four innings of relief after striking out two and giving up only one run off of four hits.

The lone run Quaney surrendered was off a solo homer in the seventh by Hunter Stratton.

The Aztecs were only able to get one runner -- fourth inning -- to third base besides the three that scored. In all, they stranded six, five of which were in scoring position, and hit into three inning-ending double plays which came in the second, seventh and eighth.

Fernandez was saddled with the loss for SDSU, as he was touched for four runs off of five hits in 2.1 innings of work. Thompson conceded three runs off of three hits in 2.2 frames of relief. Adrian Mardueno and Harrison Pyatt combined for three scoreless innings.

The Rebels and Aztecs return to Wilson Stadium Friday for another 6:05 pm affair; however, the game is being billed as "Polynesian Night" with a free tailgate with complimentary Hawaiian food prior to the contest as well as free Hawaiian-themed t-shirts for the first 400 fans through the gate and $1 beers for the first 600 pours courtesy of Miller-Coors and the UNLV Baseball Club. Saturday's affair is "Bark in the Park," and fans can bring their dogs to the stadium; however, a liability waiver must be filled out upon entry.

Fans can purchase tickets for $5 online and in advance at UNLVTickets.com. Tickets purchased at the Wilson Stadium box office are $8 for adults, $6 for senior/faculty/staff, while kids 12 and under as well as UNLV students are free.

NOTES: De La Trinidad extended his reached-base streak to 29 games ... Isbel, who extended his hitting streak to seven games, moved into a first-place tie for the team lead in multiple-game hits with 16 while Stott and Squier collected their 14th and 12th multiple-hit efforts ... UNLV improved to 11-5 when it scores six or more runs and 11-8 when it limits the opposition to five or less ... UNLV evened its record when it scores first in a game at 9-9.