LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Rebels suffered a 3-2 loss to the New Mexico Lobos in the opening game of their Mountain West series Friday night. The Rebels (16-12 overall, 4-6 MW) claimed an early two-run lead in the bottom of the first, but was unable to score the remainder of the contest, which saw the Lobos (13-12, 5-5 MW) rally with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth in the low-scoring affair at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
 
The Scarlet & Gray staked itself to an early lead in the first inning off RBI from Jack-Thomas Wold and Jason Sharman. Bryson Stott led off the Rebels' first at-bat with his 31st walk of the season, and quickly moved over to third off a wild pitch and a throwing error. Wold got the scoring started with a single to left that plated Stott. UNM starter Justin Slaten (3-2) wound up walking Edarian Williams, Grant Robbins and Jason Sharman to allow Wold to come home with ease. Unfortunately, the bases were left loaded when the next batter was struck out.
 
The Lobos' Jared Mang had a hand in the first two runs tallied by the visitors from Albuquerque. Mang, who led the team with three hits, scored in the fourth off a single by teammate Jeff Deimling and then knocked in Ediberto Reyes with his a two-single an inning later. Deimling pushed UNM ahead in the fifth when he duplicated his efforts from the fourth with Mang scoring off another base hit.
 
Slaten picked up the win for the Cherry & Silver, throwing 8.0 innings with 10 strikouts against two runs off of three hits and four walks. Slated threw a total of 120 pitches before giving way to Malachi Emond to get the final outs and record his sixth save of the season.
 
Cameron Jabara (1-2) was the hard-luck loser in the affair, allowing three runs off of eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
 
REBEL(S) OF THE GAME: The trio of Conner Woods, Paul Richy and Donavon McCrystal combined to throw 3.1 innings of scoreless and nearly hitless relief in the tightly contested affair. They faced only one batter over the minimum and struck out a total of five batters with four by Richy and one each from Woods and McCrystal.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: The Lobos hit .375 with two outs (6-for-16); three of those hits occurred in the fifth, with two resulting in runs. The Rebels, on the other hand, were 0-for-9 in the same situation.
 
STAT OF THE GAME, PART TWO: After five batters reached safely in the first inning with one hit and four walks off Slaten, UNLV was only able to get two on base the remainder of the game, with hits in the fifth and sixth by Stott and Max Smith, respectively. The Lobo hurler retired the side in five of his eight innings of work.
 
QUOTABLE: "You have to tip your hat to their pitcher tonight," said head coach Stan Stolte. "We only had one ball hit hard off of him all night and after the first inning he was never threatened. We couldn't get anything going offensively."
  
REBEL NOTES:
- Despite the loss, UNLV holds a nine-game lead, 90-81, over UNM in the head-to-head series that dates back to 1978.
- UNLV is now 13-6 in home games, and has won five of seven on this current home stand. Going back further, the team has won eight of its last 10 and 10 of its last 13 at Earl E. The Rebels began the year 4-3 at home.
- UNLV is now 7-7 in one-run games, with seven of those being played against Mountain West foes to a 2-5 mark.
- UNLV is now 8-5 in games it scores first and 4-3 in games it scores in the first inning.
- UNLV is now 1-5 in games it scores two or fewer runs.
- UNLV is now 7-2 in games it holds an opponent to three or fewer runs.
- UNLV had registered double-digit hits in six straight games until Friday's contest.
- UNLV is now 3-7 when it is outhit by an opponent.
- Edarian Williams extended his season-best, reached-base streak to 26 games with a walk; however, Dillon Johnson's came to an end at 20 games.
- Wold has had a hit in his last nine games and registered a .500 batting average (18-for-36), with nine extra-base hits (seven doubles and two homers). He's added 14 RBI and 11 runs.
- Going back even further with Wold: In his last 16 games, he is hitting .439 (29-for-66) with 11 extra-base hits (eight doubles and three homers), 21 RBI and 16 runs.
- Smith is hitting .375 (12-for-32) in his last eight games, with a hit in each contest to go along with 17 RBI and eight runs.
 
UP NEXT: UNLV continues its nine-game homestand with two more games against New Mexico this weekend. The Rebels and Lobos will square off Saturday night at 6:05 pm before MW foes conclude the series Sunday at 1:05 pm, respectively.
 
PURCHASE TICKETS: 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.