LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Hustlin' Rebels used a pair of big offensive innings to pull away early and held off a late push to defeat the Western Michigan Broncos, 9-5, on Tuesday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

HOW IT WENT DOWN: After Western Michigan threatened in the opening frame with two hits but came away empty, UNLV struck first in the bottom of the second, as Jonny Rodriguez launched a solo home run to deep right field, giving the Rebels an early 1-0 advantage.

UNLV broke the game open an inning later with a decisive five-run third. Marcos Rosales jump-started the rally with an RBI double to center, followed by Ayden Garcia's sacrifice fly. Drew Barragan added an RBI single before Rodriguez delivered the biggest blow of the inning, drilling a two-run double to left-center as the Rebels surged ahead 6-0.

Western Michigan got on the board in the fifth on a sacrifice fly, but Garcia answered immediately in the bottom half with a solo home run to right field, restoring UNLV's six-run cushion at 7-1. The Broncos capitalized on a pair of defensive miscues in the sixth to score twice and later trimmed the deficit further in the eighth, plating two runs on a two-run single to make it 9-5. UNLV's Jase Evangelista came in to relieve LJ Manning in the eighth inning with two outs and proceeded to close out the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Ayden Garcia extended his hitting streak to seven games as he hit his first home run of the season.
- Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with one home run, one triple and a game-high three RBI.
- Western Michigan out-hit UNLV, 11-10.
- Reese Lueck was credited with his first win of the season after going 5.2 innings with eight hits, three runs (two earned runs) with one walk and five strikeouts.