Cole Johnson’s first-inning grand slam was the difference, and UNLV’s late push came up short in a 5-3 loss to Austin Peay in Game 2 of Saturday’s doubleheader at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
Austin Peay scored all five runs in the first three innings, even though it finished with only four hits. After that, UNLV’s bullpen settled the game and kept the Governors off the board the rest of the way. Still, the Rebels could not fully erase the early hole.
Marcos Rosales provided the biggest jolt, launching a pinch-hit solo homer in the seventh. However, Austin Peay closer Gavin Alveti closed it out, and the Governors turned a double play to end the game.
One pitch, four runs
Austin Peay grabbed control immediately in the first.
Zion Taylor walked and then moved to third on a throwing error by Reese Lueck. Next, Ty Wisdom walked, and Andres Matias walked to load the bases. Cole Johnson then crushed a grand slam to deep left for a 4-0 lead.
Austin Peay added one more in the third. Wisdom walked, stole third and later scored unearned to make it 5-0.
UNLV chips away
UNLV finally broke through in the fifth. Jayden Hertel reached and later scored on a passed ball for an unearned run.
Then the Rebels added another in the sixth. Jack Salmon singled, and Salmon scored when Nin Burns II grounded into a double play. That trimmed it to 5-2.
Rosales narrowed it again in the seventh. He pinch hit for Nicky Garritano and drove a solo home run to deep left to make it 5-3.
UNLV put the tying run on in the ninth when Jonny Rodriguez singled to center. However, Cooper Sheff fouled out, and Hertel grounded into a double play to end it.
Arms steady after the stumble
The story for UNLV pitching was the response after the first inning.
Lueck took the loss after 3.0 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on two hits with five walks and four strikeouts. After that, Tate Foxson gave UNLV two strong innings with four strikeouts, one hit and one walk.
Dylan Rogers followed with 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with one walk and one strikeout. He also hit two batters. Gavyn Bowen finished the ninth with 0.2 scoreless innings and a strikeout.
For Austin Peay, Kade Shatwell earned the win with 5.0 innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Ryker Walton and Alveti finished it, with Alveti earning the save over the final three innings.
UNLV moved to 2-1. Austin Peay improved to 1-2.
Up next
UNLV and Austin Peay close the series on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 12:05 p.m. PT at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. The game will stream on YouTube.
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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.
