LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV baseball team (2-1) knocked off the Seattle Redhawks (1-2) by a final score of 8-5 Sunday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium to claim the season-opening, nonconference series. The Rebels broke the game open with three runs in the sixth before they tacked on two insurance tallies in the eighth to distance themselves from the Redhawks.
 
With the score tied at 3-all, the Rebels pushed ahead for good when they took advantage of a defensive miscue by Seattle in the bottom of the sixth. Edarian Williams led off the inning with a double to center and came around to score the go-ahead run from second when Redhawk second baseman Jacob Prater mishandled a throw following a sacrifice bunt attempt by Seth Mullis. UNLV tacked on two more tallies when Seattle reliever Alex Jemel (0-1) was unable to find the strike zone, as he walked Dillon Johnson with the bases loaded and then uncorked a wild pitch in the following at-bat that allowed Trevor Rosenberg to score.
 
The Redhawks cut the deficit to one run when they scored a run in both the seventh and eighth innings, but a two-run, indside-the-park home run by Bryson Stott extended the Rebel advantage back to three runs at 8-5.
 
One day after picking up his first win in a UNLV uniform Saturday, Jackson Cofer recorded a five-out save in 1.2 innings of work to secure the victory for fellow Rebel newcomer Tallon Thomason (1-0, who tossed two innings of relief.
 
The first five runs of the contest came off of extra-base hits – all doubles. Edarian Williams put UNLV ahead 2-0 in the first with a two-out, two-run double that brought home Jack-Thomas Wold and Max Smith, who had singled and walked with two out, respectively. Seattle answered in the fifth with one-run doubles from Gavin Rork and Prater. Stott put the Rebels back in the lead in the bottom of the fifth off a double that plated James Gamble, who had led off with a single.
 
THE TURNING POINT: After seeing starting pitcher Tyler Yeah throw five innings and allow three runs (two earned) off of four hits, Seattle went to the bullpen in the sixth. Jemel came into the contest and threw 28 pitches that resulted in three walks, one double and one sacrifice bunt as well as three runs for UNLV.
 
REBEL OF THE GAME: Stott went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a home run and a pair of walks. Additionally, he was responsible for four of UNLV's runs, knocking in three RBI and scoring once.
 
QUOTABLE: "We didn't play perfect defense, but we were error free all weekend and our pitchers threw strikes," said UNLV head coach Stan Stolte. "We'll have a chance if we continue that. Seattle was very competitive and will win a bunch of games, so this was a good series win to start the year."
 
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV was outhit 13-6 by Seattle, but outscored its Pacific Northwest opponent by three runs Sunday. Both squads produced four extra-base hits, with each producing three doubles and one home run.
 
REBEL NOTES:
- With two wins in the season-opening series, UNLV evened the all-time series record with Seattle at 3-3.
- Stott capped off the season-opening weekend hitting .545 (6-for-11) with four extra-base hits (two doubles, one triple and one home run) and five walks that produced 1.182 slugging and .688 on-base percentages. He added five RBI and scored two runs.
- Stott and Williams were the lone Rebels to notch multiple-hit and multiple-RBI games, as both had two hits, while the former had three RBI to the latter's two.
- Rosenberg had the lone multiple-run game with two scores.
- Chase Maddux started the game for UNLV and went 4.1 innings on the mound with five strikeouts against two runs and five hits.
- Dillon Johnson had his eight-game hitting streak, which carried over from the 2018 season, snapped Sunday. Johnson had hit safely in 13 of his last 14 prior to Sunday's affair.
 
UP NEXT: UNLV returns to Earl E. Wilson Stadium for a two-game, midweek series against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Tuesday (6:05 pm) and Wednesday (2:05 pm).
 
PURCHASE TICKETS: Tickets are now on sale for the 2019 season. Season tickets are just $90 for adults (13 and older) and $75 for UNLV faculty, staff and alumni, and seniors (62-plus). Single-game ticket prices this season are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, faculty and staff seniors, and $4 for groups of 15 or more. Fans that purchase tickets online up to three hours prior to first pitch can get them for an advanced single-game price of $5.
 
All high school, middle school and elementary students are now free under UNLV's new admission policy. To receive free admission, high school students must present valid Nevada area school I.D. at the box office on gameday to receive one (1) complimentary ticket. All other students will receive a complimentary ticket at the box office (no I.D. required). Kids not yet elementary school age will continue to receive free admission for all UNLV Olympic sports.