Utah Tech returned the favor Sunday afternoon.
One day after UNLV ended the opener with a walk-off run-rule, the Trailblazers exploded for seven runs in the third and rolled past the Hustlin’ Rebels 11-1 in eight innings at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
As a result, UNLV slipped to 15-9. Utah Tech improved to 16-9.
Utah Tech scored 11 runs on 10 hits and did not commit an error. UNLV finished with six hits, one run, and one error.
Early chance, no cash-in
UNLV had its best opening to the game in the first.
Marcos Rosales doubled to right-center, and Drew Barragan followed with a single to put runners on the corners with no outs. However, the Rebels did not bring a run home, and the inning ended scoreless.
That missed opportunity mattered quickly.
Wild pitches and walks started the trouble
Utah Tech struck first in the second on a wild pitch that brought home a run.
The third inning then broke the game open. Utah Tech loaded the bases again and again, mixing hits with free bases and another costly defensive moment.
A two-run single to left made it 3-0. Soon after, an RBI single pushed it to 4-0. Then a two-run single through the left side stretched the lead to 6-0.
At that point, the inning still was not done. A bases-loaded walk forced in another run. Then a hit by pitch with the bases loaded made it 8-0.
Felix Ong took the loss. He went 1.0 inning and was charged with one run on one hit with four walks and one strikeout.
UNLV’s lone run came late
UNLV finally scratched across a run in the sixth.
Nin Burns II doubled to right-center and later scored when Jack Salmon singled to center for an RBI. That cut it to 9-1, but the Rebels could not build anything beyond that inning.
Utah Tech added on in the seventh with an RBI single, then tacked on one more in the eighth on a sacrifice fly to finish the scoring at 11-1.
Numbers that mattered
Burns II went 1-for-4 and scored UNLV’s only run. Rosales went 1-for-3 with a double. Barragan finished 1-for-3 with a walk.
On the mound, the biggest number was the traffic. Utah Tech drew 15 walks, and UNLV pitchers also hit four batters.
Tate Foxson gave UNLV length in relief. He worked 2.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Up next
UNLV heads to Las Vegas Ballpark for its neutral-site matchup with Arizona State on Monday, March 23 at 6:05 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.
