LAS VEGAS (UNLVrebels.com) – After the Rebels picked up the 9-3 win over the Braves on Friday night, the UNLV baseball team (5-1) put their four-game win streak on the line against Bradley (1-4) for the second game of the season-series on Saturday. The Scarlet & Gray's defense performed at a high level in the contest, holding down the Braves' offense and helping the team claim their fifth win in a row on a 4-1 score.
Albert Roblez started on the mound for UNLV in his second appearance of the season, tossing 6.2 innings for the ball club en route to his first win of the season. The junior only allowed three hits during his time in the game, striking out five Bradley batters and allowing only one run. Saturday's game marked Roblez's longest time on the mound in a single game since coming to college, transferring into Las Vegas this year from Riverside Community College.
Matthew Maloney came in as relief to pitch 2.1 innings and close out the game, earning his first save of the season. The senior didn't allow a single hit on the mound, only allowing a base runner off of a walk.
The Rebels found plenty of offensive efficiency as well,
Austin Kryszczuk driving in a season-high three RBI's off four at bats in Saturday's game. The graduate student broke open the scoring for UNLV in the bottom of the fourth, blasting a home run to left-center field to drive in himself and
Kade Higgins from first base. He would later reach first base on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the seventh inning, adding an insurance run as
JP Hefft slid across home plate on the play.
UNLV would feature two batters with multiple hits in the contest, Hefft and
Parker Schmidt each finding contact in at least half of their at bats. Schmidt would single in the bottom of the fifth inning and then advance on a wild pitch, rounding home soon-after off of
Kade Higgins' RBI single into right field. Hefft would open up the game with the Scarlet & Gray's first hit of the contest, singling to right field in the bottom of the first inning before providing almost a repeat single to start the bottom of the fourth.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Rebels' defense forced Bradley into a three-up, three-down inning five times in Saturday's contest, leaving five base runners on base after the third out was recorded.
- Kryszczuk's home run on Saturday marked the 23rd of his career in the Scarlet & Gray uniform.
- UNLV's discipline at the plate provided a season-low in strikeouts, only being retired by the pitcher three times in the contest.
- The last time the program earned at least a five-game win streak was during the 2022 season when they won five-straight games from April 10 through April 16.
The Rebels will look to close the season series on Sunday, Feb. 25 with the final game, facing off against Bradley at 11:05 a.m. PT. The team will have a quick turnaround after the weekend, traveling off to Utah Tech on Tuesday, Feb. 27 for a road contest out in St. George, Utah.
