LAS VEGAS (UNLVrebels.com) – The UNLV baseball team 15-15 (5-10 MW) took the field for one-more time over the weekend on Sunday, facing off against Air Force (12-18, 8-6) to see who would claim the weekend series. Tied at one game each, both teams continued to trade punch-for-punch until the Hustlin' Rebels walked off in the bottom of the 10th inning.
The Scarlet & Gray were able to score first,
Parker Schmidt reentering the lineup and providing an immediate impact with his RBI single up the middle of the field. That run drove in
JP Hefft from third base after the junior walked in a seven-pitch at bat. The lead wouldn't last long though as the Falcons tied the game in the top of the second inning.
UNLV was able to strike again in the third inning to retake the lead, scoring on back-to-back plays.
Austin Kryszczuk made contact with the ball on a bases loaded, no outs situation that brought home
Rylan Charles, Schmidt slapping his second RBI single of the day to bring home Hefft again. Schmidt's ball was placed out in right center, helping the Rebels extend their lead to two.
After Air Force tied the game back to three in the top of the fourth, the two team's defenses controlled the game for four-straight full innings.
Carson Lane finished his outing on the start with a career-high five innings pitched and three strikeouts in the contest,
Sam Simon jumping in as relief for Lane the rest of the contest.
The defensive stronghold would crack in the top of the ninth inning as the Falcons dashed a two-run home run to center field, taking their first lead of the game at 5-3. Heading into the bottom of the ninth inning,
Alex Pimentel took a smart at bat with a four-pitch walk and free trip to first base with
Brendan O'Sullivan pinch-hitting as the game-tying run. The junior would do just that, seeing five pitches before blasting a home run through left field on a full count. With the game tied at five runs each, the two teams would head to extras in the 10th.
Sam Simon held strong for quick work of the Falcons, striking out the leadoff batter and the final batter of the inning by swinging. He'd also do some fielding work for the Rebels, tagging first base for the putout as Kryszczuk dashed to pick up a ground ball. Opening the bottom of the 10th, the Hustlin' Rebels started off with a four-pitch walk again, this time from
JP Hefft.
Kade Higgins emerged to the plate, seeing three pitches before posting a solid hit to left-center field. His hit to almost the warning track proved just far enough to deem a fair hit into the gap,
JP Hefft earning the signal from third-base coach
Kevin Higgins to round home and score. The throw would be a half-second too late, Hefft soaring past the catcher and sliding into home plate for the walk-off to win the game and claim the weekend series.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Higgins' game-winner capped a strong weekend of making contact at the plate for the Rebels, earning six hits in the three games that included two doubles.
- Schmidt's two RBIs in the contest marked the third time this season he's had a pair in one game.
- O'Sullivan's homer in his one at bat on the day tallied his fourth of the season.
- The Rebels extend their streak to 184-straight games of recording at least one run in a contest.
UP NEXT
The Rebels will close their 10-game homestand later this week with a quick pair of non-conference games, playing Utah Tech at Earl E. Wilson Stadium for two-consecutive days. The first of the two will take place on Tuesday, April 9, first pitching set at 6:05 p.m. PT.
