Marcos Rosales tied the game with a solo homer in the ninth. Still, Austin Peay answered in the 10th and edged UNLV 13-12 on Sunday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
The Governors scored in six different innings and held off two separate Rebel rallies. UNLV finished with 16 hits, but could not push across the tying run in extras.
Early punches, Rebels respond
Austin Peay struck first in the opening inning. Ray Velazquez singled and later scored when Andres Matias reached on a fielder’s choice to short for an RBI.
Next, the Governors added in the third. Cole Johnson tripled to right field and drove in Velazquez to make it 2-0.
UNLV responded in the bottom of the third with three runs. Connor Tallakson was hit by a pitch and Jayden Sanchez walked to start the inning. Then Marcos Rosales singled to shallow left to drive in Tallakson. Drew Barragan followed with a two-run single through the left side, and UNLV moved in front 3-2.
Austin Peay’s big swing inning
Austin Peay pulled even in the fourth and then went back in front. Paris Pridgen doubled to right-center for an RBI. After that, the Governors pulled off a steal of home as Trevor Conley stole second and Pridgen scored, pushing the lead to 4-3.
The Governors extended it in the fifth. Pridgen singled up the middle for two RBIs to make it 6-3.
Then Austin Peay broke it open in the sixth with five runs. The inning included an RBI groundout by Johnson, an RBI hit by pitch to Keaton Cottam, an RBI single by Pridgen, an RBI walk by Conley, and an RBI hit by pitch to Kyler Proctor. As a result, the Governors led 11-5.
UNLV rallies twice
UNLV started its comeback in the seventh. Barragan singled and Jonny Rodriguez tripled to right-center for an RBI. Next, Cooper Sheff singled through the right side to score Rodriguez. Sanchez later added an RBI single to right, and the Rebels cut it to 11-8.
The Rebels tied it in the eighth with three more runs. Jack Salmon singled and Rosales doubled to right-center. Barragan singled up the middle to score Salmon. Then Nin Burns II brought home Rosales with an RBI groundout. Sheff followed with an RBI single to left to score Barragan and tie it 11-11.
Austin Peay regained the lead in the ninth on Matias’ RBI single. However, Rosales answered in the bottom half with a solo homer to deep left, knotting it 12-12.
The 10th decides it
In the 10th, Pridgen reached on a dropped third strike and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Proctor then singled up the middle to bring home Pridgen for the go-ahead run.
UNLV went down in order in the bottom of the 10th. Rodriguez flied out to left, Sheff grounded out to short, and Jayden Hertel popped up to second to end it.
Rosales went 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs, including the tying homer. Barragan finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Sheff added two hits and two RBIs, while Sanchez went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and two runs.
Felix Ong started for UNLV and went 4.1 innings. UNLV used five pitchers overall. Jacob Gomberg took the loss, allowing one run in the 10th.
UNLV moved to 2-2. Austin Peay improved to 2-2
Up next
UNLV heads on the road for the first time this season, traveling to face UC Riverside on Tuesday, Feb. 17. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. PT.
Related stories
UNLV 5-3 loss to Austin Peay spoiled by first-inning grand slam
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
