LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Rebels wrapped up their weekend, Mountain West series against the San Diego State Aztecs with a 5-1 win at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Rebels took advantage of a pair of defensive miscues by the Aztecs middle infielders to break open a 1-all affair, scoring twice in both the fifth and seventh innings.
 
With the victory, the Scarlet & Gray claimed the conference set, 2-1, and improved to 25-20 overall and 12-12 in league play. The Aztecs; meanwhile, saw their record drop to 26-19 on the year and 11-9 in the MW.
 
The Rebels were paced offensively by James Gamble who provided three hits and scored twice, while teammate Bryson Stott also scored two runs to go along with one hit and one RBI. Seth Mullis scored once and added one hit.
 
The game got off to a quick start with an opposite home run from Stott to lead off the home half of the first inning against SDSU's Aaron Eden (3-1); however, the Aztecs drew even with help from a sacrifice fly from Angelo Armenta after the team had loaded the bases against Rebel starter Chase Maddux (3-3).
 
That run was the only one Maddux would allow en route to his third win of the year. The right-hander tossed 7.0 innings and allowed five hits and two walks. Paul Richy took over in the eighth and closed out the game, going 2.0 innings with one strikeout against two hits. Maddux and Richy combined to strand seven runners, and only allowed three to reach third base safely – one of which scored.
 
With Mullis and Gamble on second and first, respectively, after opening the fifth with back-to-back singles, Stott hit a grounder to the right side of the infield that was fielded by second baseman Mike Jarvis, but thrown errantly to second in an apparent force play. Both runners scored on the play, pushing UNLV ahead 3-1.
 
Two innings later, Gamble and Stott were involved in boosting the Rebels' lead to four runs when the duo scored off a fielding error by Armenta at shortstop. With the runners in scoring position, Johnson hit a grounder to the drawn in infielder, but the ball was misplayed and bounded towards second base, allowing Gamble and Stott to score.
 
REBEL(S) OF THE GAME: Gamble and Stott combined four of the team's five runs and four of its nine hits in the game. The former had three hits and came around to score off the fifth- and seventh-inning errors after initially reaching off a single and a triple, respectively. The latter led off the Rebels' first at-bat with a solo homer and scored once more off the seventh-inning miscue. Defensively, the pair tallied six putouts – three each – and had five assists – all Stott.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: The Rebels were successful in getting their leadoff batter on base in four of the eight innings (.500) they recorded an at-bat. Delving deeper, UNLV scored in three of those four frames that its first batter reached safely, as Stott opened the first with a single, Mullis led off with a single in the fifth and Gamble began the seventh with a triple. The Aztecs, on the other hand, were 0-for-9 in the same situation.
 
QUOTABLE: "We caught it better, and Chase (Maddux) and Paul (Richy) put on a clinic on how to pitch against a very good hitting team," said head coach Stan Stolte. "You don't have to throw 95 with a wipe out slider. Edarian (Williams) and (Bryson) Stott have been great all year turning two and our pitchers feed off that."
  
REBEL NOTES:
- SDSU's Eden was tagged with the loss, throwing 5.1 innings and giving up three runs (one earned) off of seven hits and one walk against five strikeouts.
- SDSU reliever Adrian Mardueno threw the final 2.2 innings and allowed two runs (both unearned) off two hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
- UNLV improved to 5-3 in Mountain West series this season, with two remaining – at New Mexico and vs. Fresno State – left to be played.
- UNLV is 13-8 against nonconference competition this season and 12-12 against conference foes.
- UNLV is now 7-16 when scoring five or fewer runs in a game, and 2-6 when scoring exactly five runs – with both of those wins coming in this series (Saturday and Sunday).
- UNLV is now 1-6 when holding an opponent to two or fewer runs in a game.
- UNLV is now 13-7 when scoring first and 8-6 when scoring in the first inning.
- UNLV is now 19-2 when leading after the sixth, 17-2 when leading after the seventh and 18-3 when leading after the eighth.
- UNLV is now 18-3 when it outhits an opponent.
- Gamble was the lone Rebel to record multiple hits, the 12th time he has done so this year.
- Max Smith's 28-game reached-base streak was halted in Sunday's affair.
- In his last 16 games, which included a 14-game hit streak, Stott has produced a .446 batting average (29-for-65) with 13 extra-base hits (nine doubles and four homers) that has helped amass a .769 slugging percentage. With the combination of hits and 12 walks, Stott has a .532 on-base percentage. He's also scored 23 runs and knocked in 18.
- In his last 10 games, Gamble is hitting .393 (11-for-28) with eight runs and two RBI. During this stretch, he has four multiple-hit games.
 
UP NEXT: UNLV hits the road for seven straight contests, beginning with a trip West to Riverside, California, to face the UC Riverside Highlanders at 3:00 pm Tuesday. The Rebels will then head to the Lone Star State to play a three-game, nonconference series against the American Athletic Conference's Houston Cougars from May 3-5. The trip concludes with a three in Mountain West play in Albuquerque, N.M., against the New Mexico Lobos from May 10-12.
 
BACK AT EARL E.: UNLV will return to Las Vegas and Earl E. Wilson Stadium for its final three games of the regular season on May 16-18 – a Thursday-Friday-Saturday series – against the Fresno State Bulldogs.
  
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.