UNLV’s Mountain West home opener looked like it was slipping away early Friday night. San Jose State landed punches in the third and fourth innings to grab a 7-5 lead, then the Hustlin’ Rebels detonated for 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth and never looked back in an 18-7 run-rule win at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
The Hustlin’ Rebels finished with 18 runs on 18 hits to improve to 16-10 overall and 1-3 in league play. Marcos Rosales powered the night with a 4-for-5 performance, two home runs and six RBI, while Nin Burns II went 2-for-3 with a homer, a double and four RBI. Gunnar Myro added three RBI in a 3-for-4 night, and Reggie Bussey went 3-for-5 with an RBI triple as UNLV’s lineup kept applying pressure once the game cracked open.
How it swung
San Jose State struck first in the opening inning on an unearned run, but UNLV answered right away. Bussey doubled to start the bottom of the first and scored on Rosales’ RBI single, then Burns II lifted a sacrifice fly to put the Rebels up 2-1.
UNLV stretched the lead in the second when Rosales launched a three-run homer to right to make it 5-1, but the Spartans stormed back in the third with an RBI single and a three-run home run to tie it 5-5. San Jose State kept the momentum in the fourth, using a two-run single to move in front 7-5.
That lead lasted only a few minutes. UNLV sent 15 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth and scored 11 runs, turning a two-run deficit into a 16-7 advantage. The inning featured RBI hits from Myro and Rosales, an RBI double from Drew Barragan, a two-run double from Burns II, a two-run double from Myro later in the frame, and an RBI triple from Bussey. The Spartans also contributed to the damage with multiple wild pitches, a passed ball and a throwing error during the rally.
UNLV added on in the fifth when Burns II homered to left, then Rosales connected again in the sixth with his second home run of the game to make it 18-7 and set up the seven-inning finish.
On the mound
Yates Bland (3-0) steadied the game after the early chaos. He went the final 3.1 innings without allowing a run, giving UNLV a chance to turn the fourth inning explosion into a runaway. Carson Lane started and worked 3.2 innings before Bland took over.
Vegas-worthy numbers
Vegas-worthy numbers: Rosales went 4-for-5 with two homers and six RBI, Burns II finished 2-for-3 with a homer, a double and four RBI, Myro went 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Bussey added a 3-for-5 night with a double and an RBI triple as UNLV erupted for 11 runs in the fourth and piled up 18 hits overall.
Up Next
UNLV continues its Mountain West series against San Jose State on Saturday, March 28 at 6:05 p.m. PT at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas.
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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.
