LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV Rebels lost the opening game of their three-game, Mountain West series to the No. 25 Fresno State Bulldogs, 7-0, Thursday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Bulldogs jumped out to a four-run lead after their opening at-bat and never looked back as starting pitcher Ryan Jensen held the Rebels scoreless in eight innings of work.
 
With the win, Fresno State claimed the Mountain West regular-season title and, subsequently, secured the top seed at next week's conference tournament in Reno. The Bulldogs sit 33-14-1 on the year and 18-8-1 in league play, while the Rebels are now 27-25 overall and 14-14 in the MW.
 
The visitors from the San Joaquin Valley went ahead 1-0 on the second pitch of the contest when Zach Ashford hit a home run to center field off Rebel starter Ryan Hare (7-4). The Bulldogs were able to get two more on off a walk and a single before a pair of run-scoring hits – an RBI single and a two-run double – upped the lead to four runs.
 
Fresno State added three insurance tallies in the latter stages of the affair with one run in the fifth and two more in the seventh.
 
The Rebel offense was limited to only four hits in the contest, with three of those coming against Jensen (10-1). The Bulldog hurler went 8.0 innings and struck out 10 without issuing a walk. Jensen did allow four base runners; however, the quartet was left on base – two each in the first and fifth innings.
 
REBEL OF THE GAME: Edarian Williams went 2-for-4 in the game, recording two singles. Defensively, Williams was perfect in the field in four chances with three assists and one putout.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: The Bulldogs outhit the Rebels 10-4, with seven of those hits coming with runners on base. For the game, Fresno State was 7-for-17 (.412) with runners on, while the UNLV was 1-for-8 (.125).
 
QUOTABLE: "(Ryan) Jensen was dominating," said head coach Stan Stolte. "It was men against boys. Our young kids were overmatched, but those are type of pitchers you'll eventually have to beat if you want to win championships."
 
CONFERENCE WATCH: With their wins Thursday night, Fresno State (18-8) and San Diego State (16-11), which defeated New Mexico 8-0, claimed the first and second seeds, respectively, in next week's MW Championships (May 23-26). Despite the loss to FS, UNLV remains in third with its 14-14 mark. UNR, which has completed league play, sits 14-16 and in fourth. San Jose State improved to 13-15 with an 8-7 win at Air Force, and still has a shot at clinching one of four spots at Peccole Park in Reno.
 
REBEL NOTES:
- Fresno State's Ryan Sullivan threw a scoreless ninth, giving up one hit.
- Hare struck out three, but allowed five runs off of eight hits and three walks.
- Rebel relievers (Bradley Spooner, Conner Woods and Trent Bixby) combined for 4.0 innings with four strikeouts against two runs, two hits and two walks.
- UNLV is 14-14 versus conference competition and 13-11 against nonconference foes.
- UNLV is 19-10 in home games and 8-15 in road games this season.
- UNLV sits 14-15 in day games, and sits 13-10 in night games.
- UNLV sits 8-10 in games separated by five or more runs.
- UNLV sits 1-3 in shutouts.
- UNLV sits 1-10 in games it scores two or fewer runs.
- UNLV sits 23-14 in games it holds an opponent to seven or fewer runs.
- UNLV sits 5-16 when it is outhit by an opponent.
- Bryson Stott: In his last 23 games, which included a 14-game hit streak that began against New Mexico (March 31), he has produced a .430 batting average (40-for-93) with 16 extra-base hits (11 doubles and five homers) that has helped amass a .710 slugging percentage. With the combination of hits and 17 walks, Stott has a .188 on-base percentage. He's also scored 32 runs and knocked in 21.
- Edarian Williams: In his last 26 games – beginning with UC Riverside (March 26), he has produced a .367 batting average (40-for-109) with six extra-base hits (all doubles) that has produced a .422 slugging percentage. Williams also has a .417 on-base percentage with help from nine walks. He has also knocked in 17 RBI and scored nine times.
 
UP NEXT: UNLV and Fresno State return to Earl E. Wilson Stadium for game two and three of the conference series Friday night (6:05 pm) and Saturday afternoon (1:05 pm), respectively. The latter affair is also "Senior Day," with the baseball program recognizing the seven seniors playing their final home games as Rebels.
 
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.