LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Rebels overcame a three-run deficit in Sunday's 9-4, series-clinching victory over the San Jose State Spartans in Mountain West play at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The visitors from the Bay Area pushed out to an early 3-0 advantage through their third-inning at-bat; however, the Rebels (22-16, 9-9 MW) offense came to life in their half of the third and proceeded to outscore the Spartans (18-18, 12-6 MW) 9-1 the remainder of the affair.
 
The Scarlet & Gray's offense was powered by the squad's 1-2-3 batters who combined for five hits and a .500 batting average (5-for-10) with two home runs and two doubles that produced six RBI and four runs, while walking four times, as well. Bryson Stott led the trio with three hits – two of which went for extra bases with one homer and one double, two RBI and two runs. Dillon Johnson and Max Smith registered one hit, two RBI and one run apiece, with the former hitting one double to the latter's one home run.
 
The Rebel pitching staff of Chase Maddux, Donavon McCrystal and Matthew Mitchell combined to limit the Spartans to three earned runs (four total) off of six hits, with five of those occurring over the second and third frames. Maddux threw the first 5.0 innings and struck out two against four runs (three earned), five hits and two walks. McCrystal (2-1) earned the win in 2.0 innings of hitless and scoreless relief, while striking out three. Mitchell tossed the final 2.0 frames and was touched for only one hit.
 
SJSU opened the scoring with two runs in the second and one more in the third, but UNLV answered back in its half of the third with the long ball, as Stott hit a solo homer and Smith smashed a two-run blast two batters later.
 
Both squads scored once in the fourth with help from defensive miscues to sit even at 4-all through four complete.
 
The game turned in favor of the Rebels in the sixth when Stott drilled a ball up the middle for an RBI double, moments after James Gamble had led off with a single through the left side of the infield. Those two had a hand in the next three Rebel scores – all of which were in the seventh, as Gamble padded the lead with an RBI single and later came around to score in front of Stott, who had a bunt single, off a two-run double down the line in left field from Johnson.
 
Trevor Rosenberg, who entered the game as a pinch-runner and scored off Gamble's hit in the seventh, capped the game's offensive with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
 
REBEL OF THE GAME: Stott got the scoring started in the contest with a solo homer to cut into SJSU's three-run lead in the third, and then added an RBI double in the sixth that gave the Rebels their first lead of the game. He wound up scoring an insurance run in the seventh after reaching off an infield bunt single. In all, he reached base safely in four of five plate appearances with three hits and one walk.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV doubled up SJSU in hits 12-to-6 and, subsequently, hit 159 points better than the Spartans (.353 to .194) in the contest. During the game, the Rebels were only held hitless in two of their eight at-bats – first and fifth innings – while posting two or more hits in the second, third, sixth and seventh. The Spartans, on the other hand, had three hits in the second and two in the third, but only one over the fourth through ninth innings.
 
QUOTABLE: "That was a good, all-around team win from start to finish," said head coach Stan Stotle. "We added on late to get some cushion, which we haven't done a very good job of this year, up to this point. We had some great team at-bats, and our bullpen (Donavon McCrystal and Matthew Mitchell) threw up four zeroes."
  
REBEL NOTES:
- SJSU reliever Nicholas Morales (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing three runs off of four hits in 1.2 innings.
- SJSU starter Jonathan Clark threw the first 3.2 innings, and was touched for four runs (three earned) off of five hits and four walks.
- UNLV is 13-7 against nonconference competition this season and 9-9 against conference foes.
- UNLV has won four of its six MW series this season: Wins at Fresno State (March 1-3), vs. UNR (March 22-24), at Air Force (April 5-7) and vs. SJSU (April 12-14); and losses at SJSU (March 15-17) and vs. New Mexico (March 29-31).
- UNLV leads the all-time series, which dates back to 1975, 44-33, and won the last two after SJSU took the first four this season.
- UNLV is 17-3 when scoring three or more runs, and a perfect 12-0 when scoring eight or more runs.
- UNLV is 11-4 when allowing an opponent to score four or fewer runs.
- UNLV is 10-10 when an opponent scores first.
- UNLV is 16-2 when leading after the sixth, 14-2 when leading after the seventh and 15-3 when leading after the eighth.
- UNLV is 5-2 when it hits two or more home runs.
- UNLV is 16-3 when it outhits an opponent.
- Smith extended his reached-base streak to 22 games.
- UNLV had three players record multiple-hit games: Stott (17th), Gamble (ninth) and Taormina (fifth).
- UNLV had three players record multiple-RBI games: Smith (10th), Stott (ninth) and Johnson (third).
- In his last nine games, Stott is hitting .444 (16-for-36) with nine extra-base hits (seven doubles and two homers), 14 runs and 11 RBI. He's also been walked 10 times in this stretch.
- For the four-game week against Arizona State and SJSU, Stott hit .533 (8-for-15) with five extra-base hits (four doubles and one homer), five runs and four RBI.
- For the four-game week against ASU and SJSU, Johnson hit .429 (6-for-14) with three extra-base hits (two doubles and one homer), six runs and four RBI.
 
UP NEXT: UNLV remains at Earl E. Wilson Stadium for the fifth and final game of its homestand, as it hosts the Grand Canyon Lopes Tuesday afternoon at 3:05 pm.
  
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.