COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Rebels jumped back in the win column with their 9-6 victory over the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Field Saturday. The contest was deadlocked at 3-all after the opening frame; however, the Rebels outscored the Falcons 4-1 over the second and third innings to take control and stake themselves to an insurmountable three-run edge, 7-4.
 
Each team scored twice later in the affair, as UNLV extended its lead to five, 9-4, with a pair of runs in the sixth, while Air Force scored once in the eighth and ninth.
 
With the Scarlet & Gray's win, Sunday's contest will serve as the rubber game of the conference series, with first pitch slated for 8:30 am PT (9:30 am MT).
 
The Rebels (18-15 overall, 6-8 MW) were led offensively by Austin Pfeifer and Bryson Stott, who provided multiple-hit efforts, three RBI and two runs apiece. The duo was responsible for the squad's first six runs, belting three-run homers in the first (Pfeifer) and second (Stott) innings.
 
The would-be game-winning RBI came off a fielder's choice put in play by Chase Hanson in the third, while Max Smith and Edarian Williams provided insurance tallies in the sixth off a single and a double, respectively.
 
UNLV outhit Air Force (13-14, 5-4 MW) by five, 13-8, and got two or more hits from Pfeifer (three), Stott (two), Dillon Johnson (two) and Smith (two). The Rebels also got one hit apiece from Jacob Godman, Hanson, Grant Robbins and Williams.
 
UNLV starting pitcher Ryan Hare (5-2) made the early lead hold up, as he held the potent Air Force offense to only four runs off of four hits in 6.2 innings en route to his third straight win. Hare retired the side in three of his six full innings of work, while striking out three against two walks.
 
Air Force's Gabe Martinez had another productive game against the Rebels, with two hits, three RBI and one run. Martinez had two RBI off a double in the first and then knocked in another off a groundout in the third.
 
The Falcons also got RBI from Rob Dau (first), Colby Brown (eighth) and Nic Ready (ninth).
 
REBEL(S) OF THE GAME: Both Pfeifer and Stott belted three-run home runs and combined for five hits, six RBI and four runs in Saturday's triumph.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV's offense drew four walks and made the most of the free passes, scoring on each opportunity. Four of the Rebels' first seven runs were a result of walks, with two coming in the second and one apiece in the first and third. Air Force, on the other hand, was only able to take advantage of one of its four walks.
 
QUOTABLE: "The offense did a great job to give (Ryan) Hare the lead, and he pitched plenty good enough to get the win in this offensive park," said head coach Stan Stolte. "(James) Gamble made a huge catch in the ninth to help us hang on. We need to get tomorrow's game."
  
REBEL NOTES:
- Air Force's Matt Hargreaves (2-1) was tagged with the loss, giving up seven runs off of six hits and four walks with one strikeout.
- Air Force relievers Zach Argo and Shawn Kelley combined to throw the final 5.0 innings and struck out one each, but were touched for two unearned runs off of seven hits.
- UNLV relievers Donavon McCrystal, Conner Woods and Jackson Cofer combined to throw the final 2.1 innings, and allowed two runs off of four hits, with one strikeout and two walks.
- UNLV's starting lineup consisted of five freshmen (James Gamble, Godman, Hanson, Pfeifer and Williams), three juniors (Hare, Robbins and Stott) and two seniors (Johnson and Smith).
- UNLV reclaimed its 67-game lead over Air Force in the all-time series, which sits at 102-35 in favor of the Rebels.
- UNLV is 4-8 in road games this season.
- UNLV is 14-3 in games it scores six or more runs, and 7-0 when it scores nine or more runs.
- UNLV is 13-7 in games it limits an opponent to six or fewer runs.
- UNLV is 10-6 in games it scores first and 6-4 when it scores in the first inning.
- UNLV is 14-2 in games it leads after six innings, 12-2 when leading after seven and 13-3 when leading after eight.
- UNLV is 13-3 in games it outhits an opponent.
- UNLV has registered double-digit hits in five straight and 10 of its last 11 games.
- UNLV had four players register multiple-hit games: Smith (14th), Stott (13th), Johnson (13th) and Pfeifer (second).
- Williams extended his season-best, reached-base streak to 31 games.
- Williams is hitting .348 (16-for-46) over his last 11 games with at least one hit in 10 of the contests, and seven runs and seven RBI. Additionally, he has multiple-hit efforts in five of those contests.
- Smith extended his hit streak to 13 games, and is hitting .396 (21-for-53) during this stretch with six multiple-hit games, eight extra-base hits (four doubles and four homers), 22 RBI and 12 runs.
- Stott is hitting .353 over his last four games, with six hits in his last 17 at-bats, six runs and five RBI.
- Hare has posted wins in three straight games, striking out 15 in 21.1 innings, and notching a 2.11 ERA. He has only allowed five runs off of seven hits and six walks.
 
BACK AT EARL E: Following Sunday's game in the Centennial State, UNLV returns home to host five straight against the likes of Arizona State, San Jose State and Grand Canyon. ASU, which is mentioned in all six top-25 polls and is ranked as high as No. 2 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, travels to Las Vegas for a Tuesday night affair (6:05 pm). SJSU will follow for three over the April 12-14 weekend, while GCU completes the home-and-home series on April 16 (2:05 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.