Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV baseball (14-26) dropped its series opening game 13-4 against New Mexico (21-16-1) on Friday night at Santa Ana Star Field.

"The kids hung in there until the eighth inning when it got away from us," head coach Stan Stolte said. "Kyle Isbel and Payton Squier had some good at-bats and kept us in it. Unfortunately we had a couple bad at-bats with runners in scoring position, whereas UNM had a couple good swings in crucial situations. Their guy out pitched our guy, although Alan Strong battle through a couple tough early innings."

The Rebels, who now sit at 7-12 in Mountain West play, fell behind early as the Lobos put up a run in the opening frame. UNLV came back and took the lead after posting two runs in the top of the second inning when Cody Howard doubled down the left field line, plating Justin Jones from first. Howard was able to score when Nick Ames singled through the left side of the infield and gave the Rebels a 2-1 lead.

UNM was held scoreless in the home half of the second, but came back and plated three runs in the third inning, giving the Lobos a 4-2 lead.

After a scoreless fourth, UNLV cut into New Mexico's lead when Kyle Isbel scored on a Ernie De La Trinidad sacrifice fly. The Lobos responded in the home half of the frame by plating three more runs to take a 7-3 lead.

UNM plated another run in the sixth before the Rebels were able to push a run across in the top of the eighth when Bryson Stott was brought home on a Corey Pool sacrifice fly. In the home half of the eighth New Mexico plated five more runs to take a 13-4 lead and conclude the scoring.

From the plate UNLV was led by Corey Pool, after he went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a double. Kyle Isbel (2-for-4) and Payton Squier (2-for-5) also finished with multiple hits in the game. As a team the Rebels collected 11 hits in the game.

UNLV starting pitcher Alan Strong (4-4) was tagged with the loss after allowing eight runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings of work. He was able to record three strikeouts but gave up six walks. Blaze Bohall, Corey Wilson, Christian Myers and Connor Clark all made relief appearances for the Rebels.

New Mexico was led by Jared Mang, who finished 4-for-5 with four runs scored. A total of four Lobo hitters finished with multiple hits in the game.

UNM starting pitcher Tyler Stevens picked up the win after tossing 7.0 innings, allowing three runs, two of which were earned, on 10 hits. He also recorded five strikeouts in the game. Nathaniel Garley also appeared in the game for the Lobos, allowing one run on one hit in 2.0 innings of work and recorded two strikeouts.

The teams will resume the series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. PT. Sophomore Tevita Gerber (3-5) is slated to start for the Rebels, while senior Jonathon Tripp (2-1) will go for New Mexico. Fans can watch the action live on UNLVRebels.com/videos thanks to the Mountain West Network.