STOCKTON, Calif. (UNLVrebels.com) – The UNLV baseball team (0-1) opened the 2024 season on Friday night, trekking out west to the University of the Pacific (1-0) for the first of their three-game series. The Rebels held control early but didn't hold on against the Tigers, losing on a final score of 2-1.
Rylan Charles found the Scarlet & Gray's lone run in the contest, sending his 15th-career home run in the top of the third inning, this time over the right-field line. The senior's solo shot gave the Rebels a quick 1-0 lead over Pacific.
The Rebels struck out double-digit batters throughout the eight innings on the mound, starting-pitcher
Austin Cates (0-1) claiming six of them in his five innings of work. The junior transfer's first time on the diamond with UNLV provided a hot start, striking out three of the first four batters he faced.
Jesus Gonzalez came in for two innings of relief and was just as efficient, not allowing a single hit in his appearance while striking out four at the plate.
Three different UNLV batters found multiple hits in the contest,
Chase Gallegos and
Austin Kryszczuk each picking up two alongside Charles.
JP Hefft,
Paul Myro IV and
Chase Ditmar all also found a hit sometime throughout the nine innings of play once. A handful of Rebels found free at bats during the game against the Tigers, including Kryszczuk,
Kade Higgins and
Alex Pimentel.
UNLV left 11 runners on base overall in the contest, six of them being runners in scoring position. The Rebels' final threat came in the top of the ninth inning as Charles sent a double to right-center field with one out. After a grounder to the shortstop got Charles to third, the Tigers' shortstop earned a second-straight assist to close the game.
The Scarlet & Gray will still have a chance to win the season series with two more games against Pacific this weekend. The next game is slated for Saturday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. for a second day out in Stockton, Calif. You can get news and updates on all things UNLV Rebels at
unlvrebels.com.
