Ayden Garcia drove in four runs and Parker Dillhoff punched out 10 as UNLV broke open a close game late, rolling past Bradley 13-5 on Saturday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
The Rebels scored 10 runs across the seventh and eighth innings. Then they turned the finale into a runaway, even after Bradley pushed three across in the ninth.
UNLV improved to 4-2, while Bradley dropped to 1-5.
Quick start, quick response
Bradley struck first in the opening inning. Sohrab Rezaei singled and later scored when Hayden Miller lined an RBI single through the left side.
However, the Hustlin’ Rebels answered right back in the bottom half. Jack Salmon walked and Marcos Rosales doubled to set the table. Next, Garcia grounded out to bring Salmon home and tie it. Drew Barragan followed with a sacrifice fly to left-center, scoring Rosales for a 2-1 lead.
Bradley briefly pulled even in the second when Michael Quick homered to deep right to make it 2-2.
From there, the game settled into a tense stretch. UNLV committed three errors, but the pitching staff kept the damage limited through the middle innings.
Dillhoff deals, Garcia delivers
Dillhoff gave UNLV exactly what it needed early. He went 5.0 innings and allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts to earn the win.
Bradley had a chance to add in the fifth after a double and two walks put runners at second and third. Still, Dillhoff struck out the final two hitters to escape the jam and keep it tied.
UNLV then reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Rosales reached and moved to third on a throwing error. Next, Garcia singled up the middle to drive him in, though the run was unearned, for a 3-2 advantage.
After that, Tate Foxson slammed the door for two innings. He worked 2.0 scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and six strikeouts.
Seventh and eighth blow it open
UNLV finally created separation in the seventh.
Jayden Sanchez and Salmon opened the inning with singles. Rosales worked a walk to load the bases. Then Garcia delivered again, singling to center for two RBIs to make it 5-2. After that, Rosales scored on a wild pitch, pushing the lead to 6-2.
The eighth inning turned chaotic in the best way for the Hustlin’ Rebels.
Salmon walked and Rosales reached on a throwing error. Next, a wild pitch brought Salmon home and moved Rosales to third. Soon after, Gavin Taylor stole second and Rosales stole home, with the run scoring unearned.
Barragan followed with an RBI single. Then Jonny Rodriguez doubled to left-center for two more RBIs. After that, two more wild pitches brought home Rodriguez and Cooper Sheff to complete a seven-run inning and stretch the lead to 13-2.
Bradley scored three runs in the ninth, highlighted by Aj Garcia’s two-run triple and Quick’s RBI infield single. Still, the Rebels had more than enough.
Rosales went 3-for-4 with four runs scored, a walk and a double. Salmon finished 2-for-3 with three runs and two walks. Garcia went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a walk.
Up next
UNLV wraps up the series against Bradley on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 11:05 a.m. PT at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. 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.
