LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV baseball team fell short to Air Force 10-9 during the opening contest of a three-game Mountain West series Thursday evening at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. 

The Rebels dropped to 19-30 and 10-18 in the MW, while the Falcons improved to 26-27 and 17-11 in league play.

REBEL OF THE GAME: Paul Myro IV was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with his second triple of the season, two RBIs and two runs scored. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Falcons held a two-run lead going into the bottom of the second inning before Myro's RBI triple cut the deficit in half. However, Air Force plated five runs on five hits in the top of the third, including a two-run home run from Jake Greiving. The Falcons increased their advantage to 9-1 going into the bottom of the sixth, before UNLV exploded with four runs on six hits, including a solo home run from Jacob Sharp, to cut the deficit to four. Air Force posted another run in the top of the seventh with an RBI single from Chris Stallings. The Rebels answered back in the bottom of the frame with four more runs on six hits, including a two-run single from Alex Pimentel, to bring them within one for the final margin. 

Jake Sansing (6-4) secured the win for Air Force after throwing 5.2 innings and allowing five runs on 10 hits. 

Sawyer Hawks (S,8) earned the save after throwing two hitless innings of relief with four strikeouts.

Noah Mattera (1-3) was saddled with the loss for UNLV after allowing five runs on five hits in 2.1 innings of work. 

UP NEXT: UNLV will continue the series Friday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium with first pitch slated for 6:05 p.m. 

-UNLV-