PULLMAN, Wash. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Hustlin' Rebels' (27-21, 12-13 MW) picked up a much needed win to remain fourth in the Mountain West standings with a 4-3 win against Washington State (17-31, 10-15) on Friday night at Bailey-Brayton Field. Dean Toigo belted his conference-leading 15th home of the season, while Carson Lane's recorded a six-inning eight strikeout performance. Closer Alex Overbay 1.1 innings of relief was vital in him picking up his sixth save of the season.

HOW IT WENT DOWN: The scoring began in the top of the fourth inning when Toigo broke the deadlock with a solo home run to right field on the first pitch he saw that gave the Rebels a 1-0 lead. Washington State responded in the bottom of the fifth. After back-to-back strikeouts, Max Hartman sparked the Cougars with a double to right-center, and Gavin Roy followed with an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1. UNLV retook the lead in the sixth inning in unconventional fashion. After Paul Myro IV and Toigp reached base, JP Hefft laid down a successful sacrifice bunt. Moments later, a Brendan O'Sullivan strikeout led to a wild pitch, allowing Myro IV to scamper home from third, putting the Rebels back in front 2-1. The Hustlin' Rebels added an insurance run in the seventh. After Chase Gallegos walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Myro IV came through again with an RBI double to right-center, his second hit of the game, pushing the UNLV lead to 3-1. In the eighth, UNLV tacked on what would become a crucial insurance run. Hefft drew a walk, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a sharp single up the middle by Cooper Sheff, making it 4-1. Washington State mounted its biggest threat in the bottom of the eighth, finally cracking the Rebels' bullpen. After Will Cresswell singled and Ryan Skjonsby moved him to third with another hit, Griffin Myers delivered an RBI single to center. Then, Luke Thiele knocked in another run to bring the Cougars within one. UNLV closer Overbay managed to escape further damage, inducing a flyout to right to preserve the 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Hartman ripped a leadoff double and Roy walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. The next batter reached first on a fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt attempt, but Overbay was able to get the force at third for the first out. Then came a costly Washington State miscue as Johnstone was caught stealing third on a delayed break. With two outs and the tying run on third, Cresswell struck out swinging on a full count to end the game. Overbay, who recorded the final four outs, picked up the save, while Carson Lane earned his sixth win of the season.

QUOTABLE: "Great hard-fought win. We played good baseball defensively in the bottom of the ninth when we had no margin for error. Overbay got the lead runner on a sacrifice attempt, and Gallegos threw out a runner that changed the momentum. Good team win. Will be very tough next two games. 
-Head Coach Stan Stolte

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Toigo went 2-for-5 with his Mountain West-leading 15th home run of the season. 
- Toigo is on a 15-game hitting streak and has recorded seven straight multi-hit games.
- Myro IV went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and walked twice.
- Myro IV leads the team with 32 walks and ranks third in the MW.
- Lane picked up his sixth win of the season where he went six innings giving up six hits on one earned run with no walks and eight strikeouts.
- This is Lane's second straight outing with eight strikeouts and has notched eight or more strikeouts in four starts this season.

UP NEXT: The Hustlin' Rebels will look to capture the series against the Cougars in game two on Saturday, May 10 at 6:05 p.m.