Gavin Taylor picked the perfect time for his first big bolt of the season.
With UNLV down two runs and down to its final out, Taylor launched a game-tying, two-run homer in the ninth inning. Then, the Rebels finished the job in the 10th, pulling out a 5-4 extra-inning win over Santa Clara on Friday night at Schott Stadium.
As a result, UNLV improved to 8-2 and stretched its winning streak to six games. Santa Clara fell to 4-5.
The swing inning, twice
UNLV landed the first punch in the opening frame. Drew Barragan put the Rebels up 2-0 with a two-run homer to left-center, scoring Marcos Rosales after a walk.
However, Santa Clara answered right away. Will Anderson doubled home Ben Cleary in the bottom of the first. Then, Andrew Rayment’s RBI double in the second tied it at 2-2.
The Broncos grabbed control in the third. Max Ross doubled to start the push. After that, Anderson drove him in with an RBI single. Mateo Garcia followed with another RBI single, and Santa Clara held a 4-2 lead that lasted deep into the night.
UNLV had chances to crack it earlier. Rosales hit a ground-rule double in the sixth, and Barragan followed with a single. But Santa Clara worked out of the jam, and the scoreboard stayed stuck.
Still, the Rebels kept hanging around because the bullpen refused to blink.
Numbers that mattered
Cody Albright delivered the bridge. He went 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three. Then, Jase Evangelista slammed the door and earned the win. He threw 2.0 scoreless innings, gave up no hits, walked nobody, and struck out three.
That set the stage for the ninth.
Cooper Sheff singled with one out. After that, Jayden Hertel’s groundout moved Sheff to second. With two outs, Taylor pinch-hit and did not miss. He homered to left on an 0-2 pitch, tying the game 4-4.
In the 10th, UNLV struck again with two outs. Barragan singled through the right side. Next, Jonny Rodriguez doubled to left, bringing Barragan home from first for the go-ahead run.
Evangelista then finished it cleanly in the bottom half. Santa Clara went down in order, and the comeback was complete.
Barragan paced UNLV at the plate. He went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Rodriguez drove in the winning run, and Rosales also scored and doubled.
Even so, the box score had one odd line. Nin Burns II struck out five times, yet UNLV still found enough late offense to steal the opener.
Up next
UNLV and Santa Clara continue the series Saturday, February 28 at 1 p.m. PT.
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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.
