Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team (33-22, 14-16 MW) surrendered five unanswered runs to the Fresno State Bulldogs (30-24, 13-17 MW) in a 9-8 setback Saturday afternoon at Bob Bennett Stadium. The Rebels built a four-run cushion with the help of four home runs through 7.5 innings of play; however, the Bulldogs countered with two runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth to close out the regular season and Mountain West play with a win.

The Scarlet & Gray was paced multiple-hit efforts from five players, as Nick Ames, Grant Robbins, Max Smith, Caleb Summerhays and Vince Taormina had two hits apiece. Seven Rebels produced at least one RBI with two from Summerhays, while six scored a minimum of one run, including two each from Robbins and Smith.

The game's first four runs were a result of solo home runs with UNLV getting one from Smith in the second and back-to-back dingers from Robbins and Summerhays in the fifth; the Bulldogs got one from Jeremiah Burks in the fourth.

After Fresno State scored twice in the fifth to knot the score at 3-all, UNLV got a solo homer from Ames and an RBI single from Summerhays to push back ahead by two at 5-3. The Bulldogs shaved one run off their deficit in the home half of the sixth, but the Rebels upped the lead to four with runs off a fielder's choice in the seventh as well as doubles from Taormina and Nick Rodriguez in the eighth. Unfortunately, FS fought back with a pair of RBI singles in the eighth and two more run-producing hits in the ninth with the game-winner coming off a bases-loaded walk.

THE TURNING POINT: With the Rebels leading 8-4, Fresno State got its comeback started with the help of a fielding error that was followed by a double and an RBI single. Another run was added later in the inning, while the momentum carried over into the ninth with two runs coming off three one-out base hits. A bunt, a fielding error and a bases-loaded walk capped the Bulldogs' rally.

REBEL OF THE GAME: Summerhays went 2-for-3 with a solo homer run and an RBI single. He scored also added one run.

STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV had 13 hits in the game with seven of those going for extra bases with four homers and three doubles.

QUOTABLE: "We rested some arms today and needed some guys to step up," said head coach Stan Stolte. "We gave them five outs in the eighth and four in the ninth, and you can't win games doing that. Our offense did enough to win; we just didn't close it out today."

REBEL NOTES:
- UNLV's Garrett Poole (2-2) was tagged with the loss after he allowed two runs (one earned) off of three hits in only 0.1 innings pitched.
- The Rebels seven extra-base hits were the most since the team had eight vs. UNR May 12; UNLV had a total of two extra-base hits (both homers) in the three games in between that UNR affair and today's contest.
- The Rebels are 19-6 in nonconference contests and 14-16 in Mountain West games.
- The Rebels are 23-7 in home games and 10-15 in road games.
- The Rebels are 22-5 when scoring first.
- The Rebels are 18-21 when scoring eight or fewer runs and 5-3 when scoring exactly eight runs.
- The Rebels are 18-18 when scoring seven runs or less and 5-3 when scoring exactly seven runs.
- The Rebels are 31-15 when limiting an opponent to nine runs or less and 0-1 when allowing nine runs exactly.
- The Rebels are now 27-1 when leading after eight innings.
- The Rebels are 5-18 when they are outhit by an opponent.
- The Rebels are 27-10 when they notch 10 or more hits.
- Ames' 18 home runs are the most by a Rebel since Xavier Scruggs had 20 in 2008.
- Ames' 69 RBI are the most by a Rebel since Keith Smith had 71 in 2006.

UP NEXT: UNLV and UNR will meet, once more, as part of the Mountain West Championship next week in San Diego. The Rebels and Wolf Pack enter the double elimination tournament seeded fourth and first, respectively; however, the two split the season series 3-3. This Silver Stat Showdown kicks off the tournament at 1:30 pm Thursday afternoon, while San Diego State (No. 2 seed) and San Jose State (No. 3 seed) will meet at 6:00 pm.

GOVERNOR'S SERIES UPDATE: The UNLV and UNR meeting in the MW Championships will serve as a tiebreaker and will count towards the final standings for the Governor's Series presented by NV Energy and Barrick Gold. To date, the all-encompassing athletic and academic challenge is led by UNLV, who has a six-point advantage, 24-18. There are six points still left to be awarded, baseball's and the three associated with the APR â€" the academic component.