LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV baseball unleashed an offensive explosion Friday night, scoring 18 runs on 18 hits to power past San Jose State, 18-7, in a seven-inning run-rule victory at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
HOW IT WENT DOWN: After falling behind early, UNLV (16-10, 1-3 MW) responded with relentless production at the plate, highlighted by a decisive 11-run fourth inning that turned a tight contest into a rout. San Jose State (11-14, 2-2 MW) struck first in the opening frame, taking a 1-0 lead on an unearned run after a UNLV error. The Rebels answered immediately, as Reggie Bussey doubled to lead off the bottom half and later scored on an RBI single from Marcos Rosales. A sacrifice fly from Nin Burns II gave UNLV a 2-1 edge after one. The Rebels began to build separation in the second inning when Rosales launched a three-run home run to right field, extending the lead to 5-1. However, the Spartans battled back in the third. Peyton Rowles delivered an RBI single before JC Osorioagard crushed a three-run homer, tying the game at 5-5 and briefly shifting momentum. SJSU then reclaimed the lead in the fourth, capitalizing on a hit batter, a throwing error and a two-run single from Rowles to go up 7-5. That advantage was short-lived.
UNLV responded with its most explosive inning of the season in the bottom of the fourth, sending 15 batters to the plate and scoring 11 runs on eight hits. The rally featured RBI hits from Gunnar Myro, Rosales and Drew Barragan, a two-run double from Burns II, and a two-run double by Myro later in the inning. Bussey added an RBI triple, while the Spartans were undone by multiple wild pitches, a passed ball and a throwing error. By the time the inning ended, UNLV had surged to a commanding 16-7 lead. The Rebels added insurance in the fifth on a solo home run from Burns II and again in the sixth when Rosales connected for his second homer of the night, pushing the lead to 18-7.
On the mound, UNLV settled in after the early innings. Following Carson Lane's start, Yates Bland entered in the fourth and helped stabilize the game, and held San Jose State scoreless over the final three frames. Offensively, Rosales led the charge with two home runs and a game-high six RBI, while Burns II drove in four runs. Myro and Bussey also played key roles in the balanced 18-hit attack, with the former going 3-for-4, while the latter chipped in with a 3-for-5 night and was a home run away from the cycle.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
-Nin Burns II drove in a season-high six runs and is now on a 13-game hitting streak
-Reggie Bussey recorded his fourth three-hit game of the season.
-Marcos Rosales became the first Rebel this season with two home runs in a game, as the second baseman went 4-for-5 with six RBI.
-Gunnar Myro drove in a trio of runs on a 3-for-4 game.
-Drew Barragan extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
-All but one Rebel starter recorded at least one hit.
-Yates Bland moved to 3-0 on the season as the senior pitched the final 3.1 innings where he gave up three hits with no runs allowed on two walks and three strikeouts.
UP NEXT: UNLV remains at Earl E. Wilson Stadium to continue its three-game series with two more against San Jose State. Saturday's game is slated for 6:05 pm, while Sunday's finale will get going at 12:05 pm.
