FRESNO, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Rebels opened Mountain West play with a 4-3, come-from-behind victory in extra innings over the Fresno State Bulldogs Friday night. The Rebels (5-5 overall, 1-0 MW) comeback bid was powered by run-scoring hits from freshmen Jacob Godman and Duke Pahukoa in the eighth and 10th innings, respectively, while the bullpen held the Bulldogs (5-2, 0-1) scoreless for the final three frames of action.
 
The Scarlet & Gray erased an early one-run deficit, 1-0, in the fourth with a pair of two-out, run-scoring hits with from Max Smith and Grant Robbins that pushed UNLV ahead 2-1. The score remained the same until a pair of defensive miscues in the sixth allowed Fresno State to reclaim a one-run lead, 3-2.
 
Things turned around in the eighth with Godman's two-out RBI single, which scored Edarian Williams from second base, off Fresno State reliever Jaime Arias (0-2). Arias stayed on the mound into the 10th, but was saddled with the loss after he gave up singles to Grant Robbins and Pahukoa; the second of which was smashed into the left-center field gap letting Robbins score from first base.
 
The Rebels had to stave off a pair of bases-loaded situations, as the Bulldogs got three runners on in both the eighth and 10th innings. In the final frame, Jackson Cofer surrendered back-to-back singles to allow two to reach safely, while a two-out intentional walk put the third runner on base. Cofer managed to secure his fourth save of the season when he got pinch-hitter EJ Andrews to fly out to right field.
 
TURNING POINT: Moments after tying the score at 3-all, UNLV found itself trying to hold off a potential scoring threat in the bottom of the eighth. The Bulldogs got back-to-back one-out hits from JT Arruda and McCarthy Tatum off of Rebel reliever Donavon McCrystal to put runners on the corners. With two on and one out, Fresno State went to the bench and brought in Dillon Johnson to pinch-hit. Johnson wound up hitting a comebacker up the middle that McCrystal managed to knock down and field for the second out of the inning. After an intentional walk was issued to load the bases, McCrystal worked out of the jam with a four-pitch strikeout to keep the Bulldogs from reclaiming the lead heading to the ninth.
 
REBEL(S) OF THE GAME: Robbins went 3-for-5 with one RBI and one run, and had three big at-bats in the game. In the fourth, his two-out RBI single gave UNLV a 2-1 lead. In the eighth, his groundout moved Williams into scoring position before Godman's game-tying hit. In the 10th, he led off with a single and came around to score the go-ahead run off Pahukoa's double.
 
QUOTABLE: "That was a hard-fought win," said head coach Stan Stolte. "Both teams battled to the last out. We pitched out of some jams and got one more key hit at the end that went to the gap instead of at someone. The fans got their monies worth tonight. It was a great Friday night matchup."
 
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV hit a staggering .474 with nine hits after two outs had been recorded. Additionally, three of the hits resulted in RBI for Smith, Robbins and Godman. Fresno State, on the other hand, only hit .111 (1-for-9) with two outs, with one RBI coming from a triple by Tatum in the first inning.
 
REBEL NOTES:
- UNLV's has now won three of the past four and six of the last eight meetings with Fresno State; however, the latter leads the all-time, head-to-head series 54-39.
- UNLV and Fresno State have had five of their last seven games played against each other decided by only one run.
- UNLV's 15 hits tied a season high; had 15 vs. Seattle on Feb. 16.
- Rebel starter Cameron Jabara (no decision) went 7.0 innings and only allowed one earned run – three total – off of five hits with five strikeouts against two walks.
- Rebel reliever Conner Woods (1-1) picked up the win after throwing a scoreless eighth, striking out one and walking one.
- Cofer recorded his fourth save with a scoreless eighth, allowing two hits and one walk against one strikeout.
- Bulldog starter Ryan Jensen received a no decision after throwing 6.0 innings with 10 strikeouts against two runs, seven hits and one walk.
- Arias (0-2) was tagged with the loss after he was touched up for one run off of six hits and one walk.
- Williams extended his hitting and reached-base streaks to nine games with a hit in Friday's affair.
- Since the second game of the season (Seattle/Feb. 16), Williams has hit .412 (14-for-34) with seven RBI and 11 runs. Additionally, he has scored at least once in all nine games of this stretch.
- UNLV had five players record two or more hits Friday, with three each from Dillon Johnson and Robbins, and two apiece from Jack-Thomas Wold, Smith and Godman.
- Godman collected his third two-hit game of the season, and has had at least one RBI in each of those.
- James Gamble has hit safely in eight of the past nine games.
 
UP NEXT: UNLV and Fresno State return to the diamond Saturday evening (6:05 pm) for game two of the MW series. The finale is slated for Sunday at 1:05 pm.
 
REBELS BACK HOME: UNLV returns to Las Vegas and Wilson Stadium next Tuesday (6:05 pm) to open a six-game homestand against the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners. The lengthy stretch continues with a three-game, weekend series against the Bradley Braves (March 8-10) and concludes with two midweek contests against the Washington State Cougars (March 12-13).
 
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.