LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV baseball stormed back with a massive seven-run swing to defeat the Bradley Braves 12-9 in the series opener on Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

HOW IT WENT DOWN: Bradley (1-4) wasted little time jumping ahead, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning highlighted by Anthony Martinez's two-run single and Hayden Miller's two-run home run. The Braves added single runs in the third and fifth innings to stretch the lead to 6-0, while UNLV (3-2) struggled to find rhythm early at the plate.

The Rebels finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth. Jack Salmon and Marcos Rosales opened the frame with back-to-back hits, and a pair of wild pitches brought UNLV onto the scoreboard. Nin Burns II followed with a sacrifice fly to center, cutting the deficit to 6-2.

UNLV sent 13 batters to the plate in a stunning nine-run seventh inning, turning a four-run hole into an 11-6 advantage. The rally began with a Jayden Hertel walk, followed by Jayden Sanchez reaching on catcher's interference. Salmon delivered an RBI single to start the scoring, followed by Rosales being hit by a pitch to keep the bases loaded. Ayden Garcia worked a bases-loaded walk to bring in another run before Drew Barragan ripped a two-run single to give UNLV its first lead of the night. Burns II then delivered the biggest swing of the inning, a two-run double to left-center. RBI singles from Jonny Rodriguez and Sanchez, along with another bases-loaded walk, capped the decisive outburst.

Bradley attempted to respond in the eighth with three runs, trimming the margin to 11-9, but Cooper Sheff answered in the bottom half with an RBI single to restore breathing room. UNLV tacked on the final run to make it 12-9. The Rebels' bullpen closed the door in the ninth, as Jase Evangelista retired the Braves in order to secure the comeback win. Barragan finished with two RBI, while Burns II drove in three runs. Salmon also had a multi-hit night and sparked the rally from the top of the lineup. Sheff also chipped in a pair of hits, while UNLV outscored Bradley 10-3 over the final three innings.
 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Yates Bland recorded his first win of the season going 4 innings with two hits, one earned run, five strikeouts and no walks.
- UNLV pitchers struck out 16 Bradley batters compared to the Braves striking out 14 Rebels.
- UNLV left eight runners on base compared to Bradley's six.
- Bradley used five pitchers, four out of the bullpen.
- Rodriguez, Salmon and Sheff have each recorded a hit in all five games this season.