LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV sophomore pitcher LJ Mercurius' complete-game 12 strikeout outing was the difference maker in the Hustlin' Rebels 3-0 win against UNR on Saturday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. This series is part of the Silver State Series presented by America First Credit Union.

The Hustlin' Rebels (16-14, 4-7 MW) were led by Mercurius' career-high 12 strikeouts where he allowed just three hits and no walks against the Wolf Pack (17-13, 6-5 MW).

HOW IT WENT DOWN: ​Both teams struggled to generate offense early on as the first inning saw the Wolf Pack and Rebels go down in order. The game's first run came in the bottom of the second inning, courtesy of a one-out solo home run courtesy of Cole Koniarsky to put the Rebels up 1-0. UNLV kept the pressure on UNR, but after a double by Myro and walks to Dwight Allen II and Chase Gallegos, they couldn't capitalize further and left three runners stranded. The Hustlin' Rebels added another run in the third inning when Brendan O'Sullivan singled through the left side to bring home Gunnar Myro. The hit was part of a two-hit rally, and despite leaving two runners on base, the Rebels were in control, leading 2-0. In the fourth, UNLV extended their advantage to 3-0. With two runners in scoring position after a single by Gallegos and a hit-by-pitch on Myro, JP Hefft lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Gallegos. Despite a single by UNR's Jake Harvey in the third inning and another by Junhyuk Kwon in the seventh, the Wolf Pack failed to advance any runners past second base as Mercurius and the defense took control of the game to record the shutout.

QUOTABLE: "LJ really stepped up. Great performance by him against a very strong offensive team. He was really dialed in. Had some great defensive help from Koniarsky, Allen II and Myro IV. Big one tomorrow, we have to keep digging ourselves out the hole we put ourselves in."
-Head Coach Stan Stolte

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
-Mercurius became the first Hustlin' Rebel pitcher to go the distance this season as he posted a career-high 12 strikeouts.
-The sophomore right-hander became the first Rebel hurler to pitch a complete-game shutout since Kenny Oakley did so against UNR on March 7, 2015 in a 1-0 victory.
-Hefft led the game with a pair of hits in a 2-for-5 effort.
-Koniarsky had recorded a hit in nine of his last 10 games.

UP NEXT: The Rebels and Wolf Pack will close out the series on Sunday with game three scheduled for 12:05 p.m.

-UNLV-