LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Hustlin' Rebels' baseball team (31-22, 16-14 MW) stormed back from five runs down and closed out the regular where they defeated Air Force (20-33, 12-18 MW) 9-8 in the third game of the series on Saturday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
HOW IT WENT DOWN: Air Force jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, taking advantage of a costly UNLV fielding error. That miscue opened the floodgates, as the Falcons capitalized with four unearned runs, highlighted by a two-run triple and an RBI single. The damage continued in the second inning when Air Force's Chase Spencer belted a two-run homer, extending the Falcons' lead to 6-2. A third-inning RBI double pushed the margin to 7-2. In the bottom of the first, JP Hefft sparked the offense with a solo home run to center and Cole Koniaraky RBI groundout trimmed the lead to 4-2. After falling behind 7-2, UNLV got another run in the fourth as Isaac Rodriguez scored on a fielder's choice, cutting the deficit to 7-3. Then, in the fifth, Chase Ditmar lifted a sacrifice fly to bring the Rebels closer at 7-4. Though Air Force added an unearned run in the sixth to momentarily push the lead to 8-4, the Rebels' offense was just getting warmed up. UNLV's sixth-inning explosion turned the game on its head. Hefft and catcher Connor Tallakson were both hit by pitches to lead off the frame and Koniarsky delivered an RBI double to ignite the rally. Brendan O'Sullivan followed with a clutch two-run double to left-center, bringing the Rebels within a run at 8-7. Moments later, a wild pitch allowed O'Sullivan to sprint home with the tying run. With two outs, Ditmar reached on a fielding error at second base, allowing Rodriguez to score the go-ahead, and ultimately, winning run. In total, UNLV sent nine men to the plate in the sixth, scoring five runs on just three hits and capitalizing on Air Force's defensive miscues. Once in the lead, the Rebels' bullpen slammed the door. UNLV pitchers Cody Albright, Alex Navarrete and Mason Dillow combined to hold the Falcons scoreless over the final four innings. Dillow was particularly dominant in the eighth, striking out the side in order. In the ninth, after allowing a leadoff single, Dillow induced a double play and a routine flyout to secure the win.
QUOTABLE: "Wasn't pretty but always nice to win. Got to play the seniors and they all contributed. So proud of this team, we were on life support two months ago. Now feeling good about where we're at. We'll have a tough first round game regardless of who it is. Will need to play well to advance."
-Head Coach Stan Stolte
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Toigo's 19-game hitting streak was snapped as he went 0-for-5.
- O'Sullivan went 4-for-4 with two RBI and one walk, the most hits he's produced in a game this season.
- UNLV used five pitchers, with Albright earning his second win of the season where he went two innings with one run, none earned on one walk and one strikeout.
- Dillow threw 1.2 innings of work capturing his second save of the season striking out two batters.
UP NEXT: The Hustlin' Rebels will be the No. 4 seed in next week's Credit Union 1 Mountain West tournament where they will face fifth-seeded San Diego State on Wednesday, May 21 at 6 p.m.
