Jonny Rodriguez tried to keep UNLV’s Mountain West opener steady.
He doubled twice and drove in two runs, and the Rebels briefly carried a three-run lead into the middle innings. However, Air Force punished three UNLV errors and turned Friday into a runaway, beating the Rebels 16-5 in seven innings at Erdle Field.
As a result, UNLV dropped to 13-6 overall and 0-1 in Mountain West play. Air Force improved to 4-11 and 1-0 in league action.
UNLV scored five runs on six hits. The Rebels also committed three errors. Air Force finished with 12 hits and played error-free.
A fast start, then a sudden flip
Air Force struck first in the opening inning on a solo homer to right.
UNLV answered in the second. Nin Burns II walked, then Rodriguez drilled an RBI double to left-center to tie it 1-1. After that, a fielder’s choice off the bat of Gunnar Myro plated two more runs, and UNLV jumped ahead 3-1.
The Rebels tacked on again in the third. Drew Barragan doubled and later scored on Burns’ RBI single up the middle. Then Rodriguez stayed hot, ripping another RBI double to push the lead to 5-2.
But the game swung hard in the bottom of the third.
Errors opened the door
Air Force came back with four runs in the third, and the inning turned on Rebel mistakes. A fielding error at third kept the inning alive. Then a throwing error by Gunnar Myro helped another run score. By the time the dust cleared, Air Force had flipped the score and led 6-5.
From there, UNLV never found another gear.
Air Force added two more in the fifth on a two-run homer to make it 8-5. UNLV threatened in the sixth when Jack Salmon and Myro singled back-to-back. Still, the Rebels did not bring a run home.
The eighth-run sixth ended it
Air Force broke the game open in the sixth with eight runs.
The Falcons used three walks, a bunt single, and a string of RBI hits to blow it wide. A two-run single, another two-run hit through the infield, and a three-run homer to deep center finished the surge and pushed the lead to 16-5.
UNLV went down in order in the seventh, and the run rule ended it.
Numbers that mattered
Rodriguez led UNLV at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. Burns went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk. Barragan doubled, scored once, and finished 1-for-4.
Carson Lane took the loss. He went 5.0 innings and allowed eight runs, four earned, on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
After that, Cody Albright was tagged for seven runs in 0.1 innings. Gavyn Bowen recorded the final two outs and allowed one run.
Up next
UNLV and Air Force continue the series with a doubleheader Saturday, March 14. Game 1 starts at 9 a.m. PT, with Game 2 scheduled 40 minutes after the opener ends.
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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.
