PULLMAN, Wash. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Hustlin' Rebels' baseball squad (27-22, 12-14 MW) fell in game two, 5-4, against Washington State (18-31, 11-15) on Saturday night at Bailey-Brayton Field in the second to last weekend of conference play. The Rebels tied the game in the top of the seventh inning, 4-4, before the Cougars scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning to capture the win.

HOW IT WENT DOWN: After being retired in order in the top of the first, the Rebels gave up an unearned run in the bottom half. Washington State's Logan Johnstone reached on a two-out single and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Moments later, Will Cresswell knocked him in with an RBI single, putting the Cougars ahead 1–0. In the top of the second, Mikey Cruz Jr. launched a solo home run to left field, evening the score at 1-1. The power display continued an inning later, as Dean Toigo delivered a two-run homer to right field after Myro IV reached with an infield single, giving UNLV a 3-1 lead. After the Cougars loaded the bases in the third inning, Johnstone delivered again, this time with a three-run homer that flipped the score to 4-3. The Rebels' bullpen, led by Evan Vasiliou, limited further damage, while WSU's arms kept UNLV off the board through the middle innings. In the seventh, UNLV broke through again. With one out, Cooper Sheff ripped a double to center, and after advancing to third on a groundout, he scored on a RBI double down the left field line by Nicky Garritano to knot the game at 4–4. In the bottom of the eighth, WSU's offense manufactured what would be the game-winning run. After a one-out single by Ollie Obenour and a groundout that moved pinch-runner Cole Watterson into scoring position, Griffin Myers delivered with a two-out RBI single through the right side, giving the Cougars a 5-4 edge. UNLV had one last chance in the ninth, but the Cougars' bullpen held firm. Sheff, Dwight Allen II and Cruz Jr. were all retired in order, sealing the win for Washington State and evening the series at one game apiece.

QUOTABLE: "We didn't do a good enough job offensively tonight, I'll give their pitcher credit. He threw strikes consistently, we squared some balls up early, but after that, we really didn't amount to any offensive threat throughout the nine innings. They hit a three-run home run, we hit a two-run home run which also was the difference."
-Head Coach Stan Stolte

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Toigo went 2-for-4 with his Mountain West-leading 16th home run of the season. 
- Toigo is on a 16-game hitting streak and has recorded eight straight multi-hit games.
- Cruz Jr. belted his second home run of the season in the top of the second inning.
- Sheff, Garritano and Myro IV each recorded a hit.
- Vasiliou threw two innings of scoreless relief where he walked one batter.
- UNLV was held to six hits compared to Washington State's seven hits.
- The Scarlet & Gray used a trio of pitchers, who combined for four strikeouts.