May 12, 2018 Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team (31-19, 12-13 MW) outlasted its Silver State rival, the UNR Wolf Pack, Friday night with an 8-7, come-from-behind win in 11 innings. The Rebels fell behind by three runs on two different occasions, but evened the score at 7-all through seven innings of play. A walk-off RBI single by Nick Rodriguez decided the contest.
The Scarlet & Gray was paced by multiple-hit efforts from five players with three hits apiece from Nick Ames and Max Smith, while Dillon Johnson, Kyle Isbel and Jack-Thomas Wold had two each. Smith topped the team with four RBI, with two more coming from Rodriguez. Isbel and Ames scored five of the team's runs.
The Wolf Pack jumped out to an early 3-0 lead through three innings with solo homers in the first and second innings and a run off a double play in the third. UNLV answered back and outscored UNR 7-4 over the fourth through seventh, with all four of Smith's RBI coming off a single in the fourth, a two-run triple in the fifth and a game-tying single in the seventh.
The game remained deadlocked at 7-all until the 11th when Isbel reached base off a fielder's choice. He then stole second and took to third when the catcher's throw bounded into center field. Rodriguez then took the fifth pitch offered up by Keone Cabinian (2-2) deep to right field for a game-winning RBI single.
Blaze Bohall (4-2) earned the win in 1.0 inning of relief with two strikeouts against one hit. Bohall, Bryan Menendez and Austin Anderson combined for 5.0 innings out of the bullpen with six strikeouts. The trio only allowed two runs off of five hits and one walk. Alan Strong got the start and lasted 6.0 innings with 10 strikeouts; however, he gave up five runs off of nine hits and one walk.
THE TURNING POINT: Moments after they saw UNR counter with two runs in the fifth after scoring twice in the bottom of the fourth, the Rebels pulled even at 5-all with three runs off of four hits. Bryson Stott and Johnson got the inning started with singles. Rodriguez knocked one run in off a sacrifice fly. Two runs came later in the inning off Smith's two-run triple.
REBEL OF THE GAME: Smith went 3-for-5 with one triple and four RBI. He was the main catalyst for UNLV outscoring UNR 7-4 between the fourth and seventh innings.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Rebel pitching staff struck out a season-high 16 batters, with a season-high 10 from Strong.
QUOTABLE: "Both teams showed a lot of heart tonight," said head coach Stan Stolte. "It was a good college baseball game in tough weather conditions. (Bryan) Menendez really showed a lot going 2-3 more innings than normal. The offense did a great job answering back from deficits. This is exactly what we thought it would be -- two good teams battling to win a series."
GOVERNOR'S SERIES UPDATE: UNLV drew this season's head-to-head series even at 2-2 with Friday's win. There are two regular-season games left to decide which athletic department will be awarded the three points associated with the sport in the Governor's Series presented by NV Energy and Barrick Gold. To date, the all-encompassing athletic and academic challenge is led by UNLV 21-18.
REBEL NOTES:
- UNLV is 82-64 all-time against UNR, and 2-2 this season.
- Blaze Bohall entered the game in the 11th for his 100th career appearance to up his program record for all-time pitching appearances.
- The Rebels are 19-6 in nonconference contests and 12-13 in Mountain West games.
- The Rebels are 22-6 in home games and 9-13 in road games.
- The Rebels are 4-0 in extra-inning games.
- The Rebels are 10-15 when an opponent scores first.
- The Rebels are 8-10 when an opponent scores in the first inning.
- The Rebels are 2-6 when they allow 10 or more runs to an opponent.
- The Rebels are 16-18 when scoring eight or fewer runs, and 4-2 when they score exactly eight runs.
- The Rebels are 29-9 when they hold an opponent to seven runs or less, and 4-2 when they allow exactly seven runs.
- The Rebels are 4-0 when they are tied with an opponent in hits.
- The Rebels are 25-9 when they notch 10 or more hits in a game.
UP NEXT: UNLV and UNR return to Earl E. Wilson Stadium Saturday for game two of the series. First pitch is slated for 2:05 pm. Sunday's finale is set for 1:05 pm with a senior celebration prior to the game.
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 for the two remaining home games 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.
