USAFA, Colo. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV baseball team (18-16, 5-8 MW) resumed Mountain West action with a series-opening victory against Air Force (12-22, 5-8 MW) in a seven-inning 13-2 run-rule victory on Friday afternoon at Erdle Field. Elijah Rodriguez had himself a game going 4-for-5 with one double and one RBI, while six of the nine batters posted double-digit hits.

HOW IT WENT DOWN: Dean Toigo got things going in the top of the first inning with a groundout that resulted in a double play, however, JP Hefft came from third to score the game's first run. After falling behind 2-1 in the second inning, the Hustlin' Rebels responded with a five-run third inning, fueled by Air Force errors. An RBI single by Cole Koniarsky and a two-run sequence capped by a single from Dwight Allen II, and multiple errors, swung momentum fully in UNLV's favor. The Rebels kept their foot on the gas in the fourth with three more runs, again aided by defensive lapses from the Falcons. Toigo, Cooper Sheff, and Allen II all chipped in an RBI during the middle innings. UNLV delivered the final blow in the seventh with four runs on five hits. Hefft crushed his second double of the day, driving in two more before Rodriguez and Toigo added RBI of their own to push the lead to 13-2. Evan Vasiliou came on to record the final three outs in the seventh, sealing the run-rule finish. Hefft finished 2-for-5 with four runs scored and two RBI. Toigo added a 2-for-5 day with two runs driven in. The Rebels racked up 17 hits and swiped three bags from Toigo, Gunnar Myro and Allen II.

QUOTABLE: "Good all-around team win. Carson Lane did a nice job pitching with a lead. Had numerous guys with good at-bats. Was good to see E-Rod have a great day at the plate. We knew it was coming. We start 0-0 tomorrow, need to be locked in from the first pitch."
-Head Coach Stan Stolte

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Rodriguez had a career-high four hits and drove in one run on one double in a 4-for-5 effort.
- Carson Lane was credited with his fourth win of the season after going six innings where he gave up three hits on two earned runs with three walks and six strikeouts.
- Koniarsky has stretched his hitting streak to six games after he went 2-for-5 with one RBI.
- Hefft, Rodriguez, Toigo, Koniarsky, Sheff and Paul Myro IV all posted a pair of hits apiece.

UP NEXT: UNLV will resume their series against Air Force on Saturday, April 12 at 12 p.m. PT.

-UNLV-