RENO, Nev. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV baseball team (29-29) suffered a 12-6 loss to the No. 23 Fresno State Bulldogs (38-14-1) Saturday night in the title game of the Mountain West Championship at Peccole Park. The Bulldogs, who were playing as the tournament's No. 1 seed, broke open a 4-all tie with a run in the bottom of the fifth and never looked back en route to winning their first MW tourney crown.
 
With the victory, Fresno State earned the MW's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament and will learn its seed and regional site Monday during the NCAA selection show. UNLV (No. 3 seed); meanwhile, has its season end its second straight runner-up finish at the MW Championship.
 
After allowing four runs to the Bulldogs over the first two frames of the contest, UNLV answered back with two scores in both the third and fifth innings. Dillon Johnson and Max Smith got the Rebels comeback started in the third with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, respectively, while the runs in the fifth were a result of a fielder's choice put in play by Austin Pfeifer, who was credited with one RBI on the grounder. The second run that crossed the plate off Pfeifer's at-bat was due to a throwing error.
 
The Bulldogs pulled ahead for good, 5-4, in the home half of the fifth of a one-out, RBI single by Emilio Nogales. They tacked on an insurance tally in the sixth off an RBI fielder's choice by Nolan Dempsey to increase the lead to two runs, 6-4, before scoring six more times in the seventh.
 
The Rebels managed to score twice in the ninth when Jack-Thomas Wold laced a two-out, two-run double down the left-field line, scoring Duke Pahukoa (walk) and Bryson Stott (single)
 
REBEL OF THE GAME: Johnson reached base safely three times in five plate appearances, recording two hits and one walks. He also was involved in three of UNLV's six runs, scoring twice and knocking in one.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: Rebel pitching issued nine walks and five of those resulted in runs for the Bulldogs. UNLV batters were walked four times and two of those scored.
 
QUOTABLE: "The kids played well," said head coach Stan Stolte. "We just had the same issues that gave us problems a few times bit us again. Our bullpen has to get better. We have guys that just aren't getting it done. Our seniors did so much for this program that I so appreciate how much easier they made my job; great kids and I'm going to miss them."
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: UNLV had three student-athletes earn MW All-Tournament Team honors, with Ryan Hare, Austin Pfeifer and Bryson Stott recognized for their player during the three-day competition.
 
REBEL NOTES:
- Fresno State reliever Ryan Sullivan (2-2) earned the win after recording the final out in the fifth inning.
- UNLV starter Bradley Spooner (2-3) suffered the loss in 4.1 innings of work, striking out four against five runs, seven hits and four walks.
- UNLV is 1-3 all-time – with two straight losses – vs. Fresno State in the MW Tournament, and 40-59 overall against the Bulldogs dating back to 1977.
- UNLV is 9-16 all-time in elimination games in the MW Tournament, following Saturday's twin bill vs. UNR and Fresno State.