LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV baseball (2-1) split its Saturday doubleheader with Austin Peay (1-2), rallying late for a 9-8 game one win before falling 5-3 in the nightcap at Earl E. Wilson Stadium

GAME ONE HOW IT WENT DOWN: ​The opener was a game of momentum swings, with UNLV overcoming an early three-run deficit and surviving a tense ninth inning to secure the victory. Austin Peay struck first in the second inning, manufacturing three runs with a sacrifice fly, an RBI bunt single and another sacrifice bunt to grab a 3-1 lead.

After scoring in the first on Nin Burns II's sacrifice fly, the Rebels pulled within a run in the third when Jonny Rodriguez grounded out to drive in Ayden Garcia following a defensive miscue. Austin Peay threatened again in the fourth and fifth, but UNLV pitching limited the damage and kept the game within reach. The turning point came in the sixth as Rodriguez doubled to start the inning, and Drew Barragan followed with a towering two-run homer to deep left field, giving the Rebels their first lead at 4-3.

In the seventh, the Rebels broke the game open after Jack Salmon reached base and eventually scored on Garcia's RBI single, while Burns II capped the inning with a two-run blast to left, pushing the lead to 7-3. UNLV added two more runs in the eighth, stretching the advantage to 9–3.

Austin Peay refused to go quietly, erupting for five runs in the ninth inning on a combination of walks, hit batters and wild pitches. The tying run reached base, but UNLV's bullpen managed to close the door and preserve the one-run win. Salmon paced the Rebels with a pair of hits, multiple hits and stolen bases, while Barragan and Burns II delivered the game-changing home runs. Cody Albright was credited with the win after coming in relief pitching four innings with three strikeouts, two hits allowed and two walks on no earned run. Jacob Gomberg collected his first save pitching 0.1 innings of work where he struck out the final batter of the game.

GAME TWO HOW IT WENT DOWN: The nightcap told a different story, as the Governors seized control early and never relinquished it. After a pair of walks and a throwing error extended the first inning, Cole Johnson crushed a grand slam to left field, giving the Governors a 4-0 cushion.

The Governors added an unearned run in the third to make it 5-0, capitalizing on a wild pitch. The Rebels broke through in the fifth when Jayden Hertel scored on a passed ball, then added another run in the sixth as Salmon crossed the plate during a double-play ball.

In the seventh, Marcos Rosales provided a spark off the bench with a pinch hit solo home run to left, cutting the deficit to 5-3. UNLV pitching settled in after the opening inning, holding Austin Peay scoreless over the final six frames and giving the Rebels chances to rally late. However, the Governors' defense turned key double plays in the ninth to snuff out any comeback hopes.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORES:
- Drew Barragan, Marcos Rosales and Nin Burns II all hit their first home runs of the season.
- UNLV has won two of their first three games of the season for the first time since the 2024 season.
- The Rebels used five pitchers in game one of the doubleheader and four pitchers in game two.
- Tate Foxon's appearance in game two saw him pitch two innings out of the bullpen where he struck out four batters on one hit and one walk.