LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Hustlin' Rebels' baseball team (29-22, 14-14 MW) recorded a pivotal 4-3 10-inning walk-off wild pitch against Air Force (20-23, 12-16) in the series opener on Thursday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. With the win, UNLV is one win away from clinching a spot in the MW tournament.
HOW IT WENT DOWN: The Rebels struck first in the third inning when Toigo launched a solo home run to right field, his MW-leading 17th home run of the season to give UNLV a 1-0lead. After Air Force's Zac Peters and Trevor Garrish notched back-to-back singles in the fourth inning, Christian Taylor brought home the tying run with a sacrifice fly. The Falcons weren't done, taking a 2-1 lead in the sixth on an RBI single by Garrish following a triple from catcher Walker Zapp. UNLV quickly answered in the bottom of the frame. After Cole Koniarsky and Mikey Cruz Jr. reached on a single and a double, Cooper Sheff drove in the tying run with a sac fly to left. Though the Rebels couldn't cash in more in that inning, they reclaimed the lead in the seventh when Brendan O'Sullivanmcrushed a solo home run to left-center, pushing UNLV ahead 3-2. Just when it seemed the Rebels might close it out, Air Force's Luke Elmore tied it in the ninth with a towering solo homer off Alex Overbay, sending the game into extras. After a scoreless top of the 10th, Chase Gallegos led off the bottom half with a single to left. Following a pop-out, Toigo was hit by a pitch and Hefft chopped a high-bouncing infield single that Air Force couldn't turn into an out, loading the bases with one out. Falcons reliever Charlie Russell, who had just entered the game in the ninth, lost control of a breaking ball that bounced away from catcher Zapp and Gallegos alertly dashed home with the winning run.
QUOTABLE: "I thought the two things that stuck out tonight were the 2.2 innings Marquart gave us and the catch that Allen made in center field. Outstanding efforts by both. We knew Air Force will fight the full nine innings, and we have to be ready for that all weekend."
-Head Coach Stan Stolte
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Toigo is on an 18-game hitting streak and his 17th home runs this season leads the conference.
- O'Sullivan's home run was his fourth of the season.
- Hefft and Koniarsky went 2-for-4 apiece.
- Air Force allowed no walks to the UNLV batters.
- Will Marquart came into relief where he went 2.2 innings giving up no runs on two walks and two strikeouts.
UP NEXT: The Hustlin' Rebels will play game two of its series against Air Force on Saturday, May 16 at 6:05 p.m. before they close it out against the Falcons on Saturday, May 17 at 12:05 p.m.
