LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV baseball team was on the wrong end of a 3-1 decision to the Houston Cougars in rainy conditions at Earl E. Wilson Stadium Tuesday.
 
The final score was not indicative of how the game played out offensively between UNLV (6-11) and Houston (6-9), as the Rebel offense doubled up the Cougars in hits, 12-6, and left three times as many runners on base, 12-4, than their Lone Star State foe.
 
Houston opened the scoring in the second with a two-out, RBI double and help from a passed ball, but saw its lead sliced in half an inning later off an RBI single by Eric Bigani. Austin Kryszczuk scored on the base hit two batters after he initially reaching off a one-out single.
 
The game remained a one-run affair until Houston's Ryan Hernandez led off the ninth with a solo homer to right-center field to push the lead back to two runs, 3-1.
 
Houston's Nick Rupp got the start and threw the first 4.0 innings for a no-decision after striking out three against one run off six hits and one walk. Carter Henry (1-2) took over in the fifth and earned the win in 2.1 innings of scoreless relief with five strikeouts against three hits and one walk. Derrick Cherry tossed the final 2.2 innings to earn his third save of the season, striking out five, but allowing three hits.
 
UNLV's Troy Balko (0-2) was the hard-luck loser after he gave up only one earned run (two total) off four hits and one walk, with four strikeouts. Larry Quaney and Conner Woods combined for 2.0 innings of scoreless relief; however, Haydn King was touched for one run off one hit in 2.0 innings.
 
QUOTABLE: "That was a hard-fought game by both teams," said head coach Stan Stole. "We didn't execute offensively well enough in run-scoring situations and that cost us."
 
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV left two runners on base in five innings of play and had at least one stranded in seven of its nine at-bats. Delving deeper, the potential game-tying run was left 90 feet away in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. On the other hand, Houston left four on and all were in scoring position – two at third.
 
NOTES:
-With the loss, UNLV trails Houston by three games, 3-1, in the all-time head-to-head series.
-UNLV has recorded 10 or more hits in four straight games, one more than it had amassed in the first 13 outings.
-With his two hits, Bigani has now amassed a team-best 10 multiple-hit games this season.
-Three others had multiple-hit games: Grant Robbins (sixth); Kryszczuk (fifth); and Alex Sardina (second).
 
UP NEXT: UNLV and Houston wrap up their two-game, midweek series Wednesday with an afternoon matinee set to begin at 1:05 pm.