LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV baseball battled back from an early deficit and briefly erased a four-run hole, but New Mexico capitalized late to hand the Rebels a 7-6 loss in game two of the series on Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

HOW IT WENT DOWN: New Mexico (18-11-1, 4-3-1 MW) wasted no time seizing control, erupting for four runs in the top of the first inning. A sacrifice fly from Lenny Junior Ashby opened the scoring before Damian Garcia delivered the big blow, a two-run homer to deep left, to put UNLV (18-13, 3-5 MW) in an immediate 3-0 hole. Defensive miscues compounded the damage, as an error and aggressive baserunning helped New Mexico tack on an unearned run for a 4-0 lead. UNLV responded in the bottom half of the inning when Ayden Garcia lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Marcos Rosales, trimming the deficit to 4-1. However, the Lobos added another run in the second on a wild pitch to extend their lead to 5-1.

The Hustlin' Rebels began to chip away in the second inning. An RBI single from Rosales and a sacrifice fly by Jonny Rodriguez cut the margin to 5-3, setting the stage for a momentum-shifting third inning. After putting two runners on, Jack Salmon came through with a clutch two-run single up the middle, tying the game at 5-5. From there, both pitching staffs settled in. UNLV starter Parker Dillhoff recovered after the rocky first, while the bullpen, led by Josh Donegan, kept the Lobos off the board through the middle innings despite a handful of defensive errors.

New Mexico regained the lead in the fifth, capitalizing on another Rebel miscue. After reaching on an error and advancing on a passed ball, Karsen Waslefsky scored on an RBI double by Junior Ashby to make it 6-5. The game remained tight into the ninth inning, when the Lobos manufactured an insurance run. After a leadoff walk, Waslefsky delivered again with an RBI single to left, pushing the lead to 7-5. UNLV mounted one final push in the bottom of the ninth. Drew Barragan led off with a single, and Ayden Garcia followed with a base hit to put runners on the corners. Nin Burns II brought home Barragan with a sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game, but the rally ended moments later when Cooper Sheff grounded into a game-ending double play.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
-Marcos Rosales and Jack Salmon both collected a pair of hits, with the former driving in one run, while the latter tacked on two RBI.
-Drew Barragan extended his on-base streak to 15-games.
-Eight of the nine Rebel starters collected at least one hit.
-The Scarlet & Gray left nine runners on base compared to New Mexico's five.
-UNLV went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
-Parker Dillhoff is now 3-1 on the season after going 5.0 innings where he gave up four hits, six runs (four earned) with three walks and two strikeouts.
-Josh Donegan made his second relief appearance of the season going 3.0 innings where he surrendered just one hit with no walks, no runs and two strikeouts.