LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Rebels drew even with the San Diego State Aztecs in their weekend, Mountain West series at Earl E. Wilson Stadium with a 5-4 victory Saturday night. The Rebels fell behind by two runs through 2.5 innings, but rallied with five straight and held on for the one-run triumph after the Aztecs pushed two across in the ninth.
 
With the win, the Scarlet & Gray improved to 24-20 on the year and 11-12 in the Mountain West. SDSU, on the other hand, sits 26-18 overall and 11-8 in league play.
 
The Aztecs strung together back-to-back frames that produced one run off of three hits in both the second and third innings against Rebel starter Ryan Hare (7-2). SDSU was able to notch one more hit off of Hare in the fourth; however, that was all the right-hander would allow until his exit after facing one batter in the top of the ninth.
 
The Rebels drew even in the bottom of the third off a two-run single from Edarian Williams, which scored Seth Mullis and Dillon Johnson after the pair had reached base off a single and a fielder's choice, respectively.
 
UNLV took the lead for good with a three-run fifth, with scores coming from a solo homer from Bryson Stott, a balk – Johnson scored, and an RBI double from Austin Pfeifer. Max Smith scored off of Pfeifer's hit after initially reaching off a single.
 
The game got a bit suspenseful in the ninth when the Aztecs got a two-run single from Matt Rudick after a pair of runners had worked their way into scoring position, with Rebel reliever Jackson Cofer on the mound. With the potential game-tying run on first, Cofer induced a groundout to Williams at second base to end the contest and secure the win and, subsequently, notch his 10th save of the season.
 
REBEL OF THE GAME: Hare settled down and held the potent Aztec offense silent for five innings after giving up two runs and seven hits over the second through fourth innings. Hare finished the game with two strikeouts against three walks.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: The Aztecs recorded 15 hits in their win Friday, but were limited to eight hits in Saturday's defeat. SDSU bunched seven of its eight hits into a three-inning span – the second, third and fourth – and were held to only one the remainder of the affair – a single in the ninth.
 
QUOTABLE: "That was a great team win," said head coach Stan Stolte. "We played good, sound defense outside of one play. (Bryson) Stott and (Austin) Pfeifer had a couple key hits and (Ryan) Hare and (Jackson) Cofer got the job done on the mound against a very good club."
  
REBEL NOTES:
- With his 10th save of the year, Cofer became only the third Rebel to amass double-digit saves in a single season at UNLV, joining Bryan Menendez (2018: 12) and Ben Wright (2016: 11).
- SDSU's Justin Goossen-Brown (5-3) was tagged with the loss after throwing 6.1 innings and allowing five runs off of eight hits, with four strikeouts against two walks.
- SDSU's Christian Winston threw the final 1.2 frames of relief and struck out two against one walk.
- UNLV's win Saturday night snapped SDSU's eight-game win streak in the head-to-head series, which dated back to the 2018 campaign.
- UNLV is 13-8 against nonconference competition this season and 11-12 against conference foes.
- UNLV is now 10-7 in one-run games.
- UNLV is now 6-16 when scoring five or fewer runs in a game, and 1-6 when scoring exactly five runs.
- UNLV is now 13-4 when holding an opponent to four or fewer runs in a game, and 3-1 when giving up exactly four runs.
- UNLV is now 12-13 when allowing an opponent to score first.
- UNLV is now 18-2 when leading after the sixth, 16-2 when leading after the seventh and 17-3 when leading after the eighth.
- UNLV is now 3-4 when hits are tied in a game.
- UNLV had four players record multiple-hit games: Williams (17th), Gamble (11th), Robbins (10th) and Mullis (third).
- Williams' four hits equal a career- and season-high haul that was previously achieved at Stanford (Feb. 24) earlier this year.
- Robbins now has three three-hit games this season, as tonight's joins Fresno State (March 1) and Washington State (March 13).
- Max Smith extended his reached-base streak to 28 games; however, James Gamble's was halted at 14.
- Stott tallied his 22nd multiple-hit of the game of the year.
- In his last 15 games, which included a 14-game hit streak, Stott has produced a .452 batting average (28-for-62) with 12 extra-base hits (nine doubles and three homers) that has helped amass a .742 slugging percentage. With the combination of hits and 11 walks, Stott has a .534 on-base percentage. He's also scored 21 runs and knocked in 17.
- Williams notched his eighth multiple-RBI game of the year.
 
UP NEXT: UNLV and SDSU return to Earl E. Wilson Stadium Sunday for the rubber game of their MW series. First pitch is slated for 1:05 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.