LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV baseball team came up short in the first and only doubleheader of the season, as Michigan State claimed game one by four runs, 10-6, and the second by six scores, 12-6.

The Rebels (1-2) and the Spartans (2-1) return to the diamond Sunday to close out the four-game, nonconference series hosted by UNLV at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m.

UNLV was paced offensively by Rylan Charles and Diego Alarcon in the twin bill. Charles batted 4-for-9 with four hits and added four RBI and three runs. Alarcon hit 3-for-9 with three hits, one run and chipped in two RBI. 

In all, the Rebels hit 20-for-74 as a team with six players recording at least two hits on the day.

GAME ONE RECAP: UNLV jumped out to an early two-run lead, 2-0, after it scored twice in the bottom of the second. Michigan State tied it up with a two-run homer in the third, 2-2. They then pulled ahead in the fifth by scoring two runs off of one hit, only for the Rebels to answer back with two runs off of a homer from Alarcon. The Rebels kicked it in gear in the sixth with a run from Eric Bigani from Gianni Horvat's RBI triple, followed by a sac fly from Charles that brought Horvat home, 6-4. 

Michigan State scored five runs off of three hits in the seventh, 9-6, before scoring again at the top of the ninth to secure their win.

Troy Balko was saddled with the loss after going 2.0 innings and striking out two against five runs off of three hits and three walks. 

Conner Tomasic (1-0) picked up the win in 5.0 innings of relief for Michigan State, striking out eight and only giving up four runs off of seven hits. Nick Powers earned the save after going the initial 4.0 frames, striking out three and allowing two runs off of three hits. 

GAME TWO RECAP: Michigan State pulled ahead early, scoring four runs in the second and an additional run in the third to put enough distance between the two squads in the contest. 

After being held scoreless for four frames, UNLV got its offense going again with 2 RBI that allowed Horvat and Bigani to run home, closing the gap 5-2. The Spartans offense wound up putting two more runs on the scoreboard in the sixth, only to have their calls answered by a homer from Charles in the bottom of the seventh, 7-3. The Spartans pulled ahead with five runs off of four hits in the eighth and remained ahead for the remaining frames. Jordan Andrade hit his first solo homer of the season in the eighth, Charles and Enrique Bennet scored for the Rebels in the ninth but still came up short in the end. 

UNLV's Nolan George (0-1) started the game and was handed the loss after he gave up five runs off of five hits. In all, the Rebels used a total of eight pitchers in the affair.

Ryan Szczepaniak (1-0) secured the win after throwing 5.0 innings and striking out seven against two runs off four hits. Dominic Pianto earned the save after he struck out four in four innings of relief, however, he did allow four runs off of six hits. 

NOTES:

-The Rebels still hold the overall series over the Spartans, but only 7-5.

-This is the first and only doubleheader of the 2022 season.

UP NEXT: The Rebels and the Spartans will continue the final game of the four-game, nonconference series Sunday at Wilson Stadium. The first pitch is slated for 12:05 p.m.

-UNLV-