MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV's offense erupted late in a decisive eighth inning as the Hustlin' Rebels powered past Southern Illinois, 16-8, on Saturday afternoon in day two of the Cambria Classic at U.S. Bank Stadium.

UNLV (11-5) broke open what had been a comfortable but tightening game by scoring 10 runs in the eighth inning, turning a two-run contest into a runaway victory. The Scarlet & Gray set the tone early, scoring in the first inning when Nin Burns II delivered an RBI single through the left side to score Marcos Rosales for a 1-0 lead. UNLV extended the advantage with a four-run second inning as Rosales doubled home a run before eventually scoring on a wild pitch, while Burns II added an RBI double to give the Rebels a 5-0 lead.

UNLV's Parker Dillhoff held Southern Illinois (5-8) hitless through the first three innings and carried the shutout into the seventh. Southern Illinois finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Jacob McKenzie's two-run triple highlighted a three-run inning that cut the Rebels' lead to 5-3 and briefly swung momentum toward the Salukis. The Rebels responded with their biggest offensive frame of the season in the eighth. Jack Salmon and Gunnar Myro each delivered RBI singles before a bases-loaded walk by Reggie Bussey forced in another run.

After a sacrifice fly from Ayden Garcia pushed the lead to 10-3, Burns II crushed a three-run homer to left-center. Moments later, Gavin Taylor capped the inning with a two-run home run, completing the 10-run explosion and stretching the lead to 15–3. UNLV added one more run in the ninth on a wild pitch to push the total to 16. Southern Illinois attempted a late push, scoring three runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth, including a two-run homer, but the deficit proved far too large.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
-Parker Dillhoff recorded his second win of the season where the lefthander went 6.1 innings where he gave up five hits, three earned runs, two walks and six strikeouts.
-Nin Burns II posted a game and season-high four hits on a 4-for-6 effort with a season-high five RBI.
-Gunnar Myro went 3-for-4 and was one of seven Rebels to score multiple runs in the game. 
-Southern Illinois walked only twice in the game compared to UNLV's six walks.
-Of the 16 Rebel runs that score, they only scored in three innings.
-Marcos Rosales has notched two hits in three of the last four games.

UP NEXT: UNLV will close out the three-day Cambria Classic at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, March 8 at 12 p.m. PT against Northwestern.