LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Rebels defeated the Washington State Cougars, 12-7, Wednesday afternoon to sweep the two-game, midweek series against the Pac-12 foe at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. After falling behind by one run, 4-3, through four innings of play, the Rebels outscored the Cougars 9-3 from the fifth inning on en route to the come-from-behind victory in blustery conditions.
 
In the series, the Scarlet & Gray produced 29 runs off of 30 hits and was credited with 26 RBI, as the squad notched double figures in all three categories against the Cougars. The double-digit runs and RBI in the two games against WSU marked only the second and third times the Rebels had 10 or more of each in a contest this season. The 17- and 13-hit efforts Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, were the 11th and 12th instances that UNLV has surpassed 10 or more hits in a game.
 
The Rebels got 11 of their 13 hits Wednesday from the quintet of James Gamble, Grant Robbins, Max Smith, Bryson Stott and Jack-Thomas Wold. All five had multiple-hit efforts, while Robbins led all with his perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate that produced three RBI and one run. In all, the they scored nine of the team's 12 runs, with three of those coming from Gamble.
 
WSU's Garrett Gouldsmith, the son of former Rebel head coach Buddy Gouldsmith, got the scoring started with an RBI off a groundout in the top of the second; however, the lead was short lived as Vince Taormina (groundout), Duke Pahukoa (single) and Dillon Johnson (sac fly) answered back with three RBI for UNLV.
 
The Cougars reclaimed a one-run advantage, 4-3, in the fourth off a three-run home run, but their pitchers' inability to find the strike zone in the fifth allowed the Rebels to push back ahead. Trent Sellers (0-1) put three straight batters on base – two of whom walked – before Trevor Ichimura was summoned from the bullpen. Ichimura let two of his inherited runners score off a wild pitch and a balk, while the third made his way home off an RBI single by Robbins to up the home side's edge to two, 6-4, after five.
 
A solo homer in the sixth by WSU cut the Rebel lead to one, 6-5, but that was as close as the visitors from the Palouse would get as Johnson and Robbins plated two more runs. The Cougars managed to score once more in the seventh and eighth, but UNLV countered with four in that same span.
 
REBEL OF THE GAME: Robbins tied a season- and career-high with three hits in Wednesday's game, while his three RBI tied a career best. His only run of the game came in the second inning and pushed UNLV ahead by a run, 2-1, while each of this three RBI provided insurance, beginning with the first that upped the lead to two, 6-4, in the fifth.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: Johnson was responsible for four of UNLV's 12 runs, knocking in three RBI and scoring once, despite going 0-for-2. He walked in three plate appearances and added three productive outs with a sac fly in the second and groundouts in the sixth and seventh, respectively. His run came in the fifth off Seller's wild pitch.
 
QUOTABLE: "Our offense did a great job, scoring every inning from the fifth to the eighth, because Washington State wasn't going away," said head coach Stan Stolte. "Our bullpen did enough to close it out. It was a tough day to play with the wind being a major factor, but I thought our kids battled through it."
 
REBEL NOTES:
- After starting the year 4-5, UNLV has won three straight, five of its last six, and seven of its last nine games.
- UNLV took a one-game edge in the all-time series with WSU, and now lead it 11-10.
- Matthew Mitchell (1-0) earned his first win as a Rebel; throwing 1.1 innings of relief and allowing only one run off of one hit.
- Jackson Cofer notched his seventh save of the season, throwing 1.1 innings and giving up one hit.
- Cofer has recorded at least four outs in six of his seven saves this season.
- WSU's Sellers suffered the loss in only 1.0 inning of relief after he surrendered three runs off of one hit and two walks.
- UNLV improved to 7-1 when scoring six or more runs and 3-0 when scoring 10 or more runs in a game.
- UNLV improved to 8-2 when it outhits its opponent in a game.
- UNLV is now 5-6 in games that its opponent scores first.
- Edarian Williams extended his hitting and reached-base streaks to 17 games after Wednesday's contest.
- Since the second game of the season (Seattle/Feb. 16), Williams is hitting .368 (25-for-68) with six multiple-hit games, while producing 18 runs and 16 RBI.
- Stott upped his team-best batting average to .379 with help from his 10th multiple-hit game of the season.
- With three walks Tuesday, Johnson has reached base safely in 11 straight games.
- Jack-Thomas Wold has collected a hit in seven straight and reached base safely in 13 consecutive games.
 
UP NEXT: UNLV hits the road and travels to the Golden State for the third time this season to jump back into Mountain West play against the San Jose State Spartans at Municipal Stadium. The Rebels and Spartans will square off three times, beginning with Friday's 6:00 pm affair. The series continues Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm and 12:00 pm, respectively.
 
BACK AT EARL E.: Following its second trip to the Bay Area this season, UNLV will return to Las Vegas and Earl E. Wilson Stadium for nine straight games. The Rebels will open the lengthy homestand against Cal State Northridge Tuesday (2:05 pm) before welcoming intrastate rival UNR to town for three (March 22-24). UC Riverside (March 26-27) and New Mexico (March 29-31) will also travel to Southern Nevada to face the Rebels.
 
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.