Box Score LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Rebels and Bradley Braves went toe-to-toe for 15 innings Friday night in the opening contest of their three-game, nonconference series at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The affair was deadlocked at 1-all through 14 innings of play before the two squads erupted for three runs in the 15th. Fortunately, the home-standing Rebels (8-6) were victorious in the end, claiming the marathon tilt, 3-2, over the Braves (6-4) and, in the process, recording the program's 1,600th win.
The Scarlet & Gray, which has now won four of its last five outings, found itself in a precarious position heading into its final at-bat after the Braves combined a one-out triple from Brendan Dougherty and a sacrifice fly from Keaton Rice to push ahead 3-2 in the top of the 15th. UNLV quickly answered back with a one-out single from
Jacob Godman that was followed by an RBI triple to the left-center field wall from
Jason Sharman. Two batters later,
Dillon Johnson provided the game-winning hit with a single to the right-side of the infield that Bradley's second baseman Nick McMurray was unable to corral, allowing Sharman to score with ease from third.
Prior to those three runs, the game had only witnessed two runners cross the plate. The Braves took an early 1-0 lead in the fourth off an RBI double by Dougherty, while the Rebels countered with a game-tying RBI single from
James Gamble an inning later.
UNLV's
Paul Richy (1-0) picked up the win in one inning of relief, while Bradley's Matthew Richey (0-1) was tagged with the loss. The Rebels' Richy struck out one against one run off of one hit and one walk, while the Braves' Richey also struck out one, but surrendered two runs off of three hits and two walks.
REBEL(S) OF THE GAME: UNLV's relief trio of
Jackson Cofer,
Donavon McCrystal and
Conner Woods held the Braves hitless and scoreless for six innings over the ninth through 14th innings. They struck out two batters apiece and only Cofer allowed one walk.
STAT OF THE GAME: Prior to the game-winning hit in the 15th, UNLV had left a total of 17 runners on base. Moreover, eight of those were in scoring position, with five stranded at third base when an inning came to an end.
STAT OF THE GAME, PART TWO: UNLV's
Bryson Stott broke the program's single-game record for walks with five. Stott was walked on five pitches in the fifth before he was issued four straight intentional walks.
STAT OF THE GAME, PART THREE: Johnson's 15th-inning at-bat was his eighth of the game, which tied a UNLV single-game record. Prior to Friday's contest, 10 others had accomplished the feat, with Joey Armstrong the last to do so against San Diego State on April 19, 2013.
QUOTABLE: "Just a crazy game that went our way," noted head coach
Stan Stolte. "We could have done a lot of things better, and we had some bad at-bats at times, but I'm sure Bradley is saying the same thing. All five of our arms were outstanding tonight. Two freshmen, (Jacob) Godman and (Jason) Sharman really batting in the bottom of the 15th and put us in a position to win. I was glad to see DJ (
Dillon Johnson) come through; he is such a gamer and was having a tough night."
REBEL NOTES:
- With the win, UNLV improved to 3-0 all-time against Bradley.
- Friday's game was the longest since UNLV and Air Force concluded the 2015 season at the Mountain West Championship in 15 innings – a game the Falcons won 4-3.
- UNLV pitchers combined to strikeout 16 Bradley batters; the most the Rebels have amassed in a game since striking out 16 UNR batters on May 11, 2018.
- UNLV's offense had 56 total at-bats Friday; the most by the Rebels since they had 59 against San Diego State on April 19, 2013.
- UNLV had previously played Seattle (Feb. 16: 11-10) and Fresno State (March 1: 4-3) to 10 innings earlier this season.
- UNLV is 7-4 in the 11 games where the margin of victory is four or fewer runs; however, the Rebels are 1-2 when the margin is five or more runs.
- UNLV improved to 5-2 in one-run games.
- UNLV improved to 3-0 in extra-inning games.
- UNLV evened its record at 2-2 when scoring between 3-5 runs in a game.
- UNLV improved to 6-2 when it allows five or fewer runs in a game.
- UNLV improved to 6-2 when it out-hits an opponent.
- UNLV entered Friday's game leading the nation in double plays; the Rebels turned two against Bradley, including one in the 10th.
- UNLV starter
Cameron Jabara went 8.0 innings, striking out nine against one run off of five hits.
- Bradley starter Mitch Janssen went 5.0 innings with three strikeouts against one run off of four hits and one walk.
- Similar to UNLV's trio of reliever, Bradley used five pitchers over the sixth through 14th, and held UNLV scoreless despite giving up seven hits and five walks.
- Eight of UNLV's 14 hits came from three players: Smith (three hits), Robbins (three) and Johnson (two).
-
Edarian Williams extended his hitting and reached-base streaks to 13 games after Friday's contest.
- Since the second game of the season (Seattle/Feb. 16), Williams is hitting .377 (20-for-53) with five multiple-hit games, while producing 13 runs and 12 RBI.
- Gamble has hit safely in 12 of the past 13 games, and has a .296 batting average (16-for-54) during this stretch. The only game he was hitless was last Tuesday against Utah (Feb. 26).
- Smith has 13 hits in his last seven games – five of which have been multiple-hit affairs – for a .382 batting average (13-for-34) to go along with five runs and three RBI.
- With his two hits Friday, Johnson has gone 9-for-26 (.346) at the plate with three runs and two RBI in his last five games.
UP NEXT: UNLV and Bradley continue their weekend series at Wilson Stadium with a 2:05 pm tilt Saturday afternoon. The third and final game of the nonconference set will take place Sunday at 1:05 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.
