Box Score March 17, 2018 Box Score
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (UNLVRebels.com) - The No. 21 UNLV baseball team erased a four-run deficit with a 12-run outburst in the seventh inning en route to a 19-15 win over the Air Force Falcons Saturday afternoon at Falcon Field. The Rebels, who trailed 7-3, paired nine hits with six walks to push across their 12 runs, which were half of the 24 runs scored over the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
The come-from-behind victory moves the Scarlet & Gray to 18-2 on the year and 5-0 in the Mountain West -- the third instance the Rebels have begun an MW season 5-0 (2004 and 2014). The loss sends Air Force's record to 6-12 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
UNLV managed to get its first three batters on base safely in the seventh via walks before Air Force went to the bullpen for the first time in the frame, as Jake Gilbert (2-2) replaced fellow reliever Ethan Nichols on the mound. Nichols appeared to halt the Rebel offensive by inducing a double play that allowed one run to score and cut the visitor's deficit to three runs, 7-4. Despite his quick success, Gilbert was unable to get another Rebel out as he surrendered three hits and one walk to pull the Rebels even at 7-all. Josh Leaser was brought in to pitch, but was roughed up by four hits (three singles and one double) before he was removed for Luke Chilcutt, who immediately uncorked a wild pitch and walked a batter before giving up a two-run single and an RBI single to cap off the offensive explosion.
The Falcons answered with three run in their half of the seventh to pull within five at 15-10; however, the Rebels scored twice in both the eighth and ninth to add some insurance tallies before the hosts posted a five-spot in their final at-bat.
Five players had multiple-hit games, including four-hit efforts from Nick Rodriguez and Jack-Thomas Wold, paced UNLV's offense. The aforementioned duo and Bryson Stott knocked in four RBI apiece, while Wold scored a team-high four runs to three apiece from Kyle Isbel and Rodriguez.
UNLV closer Bryan Menendez earned his seventh save of the season -- to secure the win for Blaze Bohall (1-0) -- after he entered the fray with runners on the corners and two outs in the ninth. Menendez quickly concluded the contest without even throwing a pitch, as he picked the runner off first base.
THE TURNING POINT: Trailing by three in the seventh, 7-4, with two outs and a runner on third base, UNLV was patient at the plate and was able to string together nine hits and three walks to turn the game around. Seven of the hits were credited with at least one RBI in the frame.
REBEL OF THE GAME: Wold went 4-for-5 with four runs and two RBI in the game. In the fifth, he had an RBI double and later scored in the inning. He led off the seventh with a walk and scored to make it a three-run game at 7-4. Later in the inning, he had a single and scored, once more, to make it 11-7.
QUOTABLE: "This was another crazy game in Colorado Springs," said head coach Stan Stolte. "It's amazing how the game is never over here until the 27th out. We came back from being dead in the water with 11, two-out runs in the seventh. Air Force battled back, but coach (Kevin) Higgins, the brilliant baseball mind he is, called the pickoff to end the game. So, we'll give him the save instead of (Bryan) Menendez."
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV's starting 1-8 batters combined for 17 RBI and 17 runs off of 17 hits on March 17 -- also known as St. Patrick's Day!
STAT OF THE GAME, PART DEUX: Menendez picked up his seventh save of the season without throwing a recorded pitch, as he picked off the would-be third out at first base after completing his warm-up tosses.
REBEL NOTES:
- The Rebels' 19 runs, 18 hits, 18 RBI and 11 walks were season highs, while their six doubles tied the season-best mark.
- The Rebels' 18-2 record is the best start through 20 games in program history.
- The Rebels have won 15 of their last 16, and the last instance this was achieved was in 1989 (February 17 to March 12).
- The Rebels are 5-0 in Mountain West games this season and 13-2 in nonconference contests.
- The Rebels last started MW play 5-0 was during the 2014 campaign.
- The Rebels' 5-0 start in MW play is the third instance (2004, 2014, 2018) a squad has began a season perfect since the conference's inaugural season of 2000.
- The Rebels are 5-1 on the road this season, the first instance they've began with five wins in six tries since 2013.
- The Rebels are 13-2 in nonconference games this season: 11-1 at home and 2-1 on the road.
- The Rebels are a perfect 15-0 when leading after the seventh and eighth innings.
- The Rebels have trailed in 14 games this season, but hold a 12-2 mark in those they have allowed the opponent to lead at one point or another.
- The Rebels have outhit their opponents in 16 games this season, and own a 15-1 mark in those outings.
- The Rebels have been outhit by their opponents in four games this season, and own a 3-1 mark in those outings.
- The Rebels have notched 10 or more hits in 17 games this season, and own a 16-1 mark in those outings.
- The Rebels have scored in double figures eight times this season and were credited with double-digit RBI totals in each. - Max Smith extended his reached-base streak to 19 games with help from two walks and one hit.
- Robbins has reached base safely in 14 straight games, only the second Rebel to achieve the feat this season.
- Rodriguez pushed his hitting streak to 11 games, only the third Rebel to achieve the feat this season.
- Stott and Isbel upped their team-best multiple-hit game totals to 14 apiece, while Rodriguez, Wold and Robbins bumped theirs to 11, eight and seven, respectively.
UP NEXT: UNLV closes out its conference trip to Colorado Springs Sunday with an 11:00 am PT affair with Air Force. The Rebels will stay out on the road to face the Arizona Sun Devils in Phoenix on March 20.
SEASON TICKETS: UNLV still has 15 home games remaining to be played at Earl E. Wilson Stadium and fans can purchase their 2018 Rebel baseball season tickets online at UNLVTickets.com or by calling 702-739-FANS (3267). Season tickets are $90 for adults (13 and older), while seniors (62-plus), faculty and staff, and alumni are $75.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS: Fans can purchase single-game tickets online and in-advance for only $5; however, they must be purchased through UNLVTickets.com three hours prior to first pitch. Single-game tickets are priced at $8 for adults, $6 for senior/faculty/staff and $4 for groups of 15 or more. As always, UNLV students (with Rebel Card) and kids 12 and under are always free.
