NCAA baseball

UNLV gives up 13 late, falls 17-14 to CSU Bakersfield

UNLV loss wasted 14 runs after CSU Bakersfield erupted for 13 across the final three innings. The Roadrunners edged the Rebels 17-14 at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

by
Mark Hebert
March 31, 2026

Drew Barragan, wearing a pinstriped UNLV “Rebels” jersey, raises his helmet in his left hand and smiles on the infield during a night game.

UNLV infielder Drew Barragan acknowledges the crowd after reaching base during a previous game at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Image by Mark Hebert — Dice City Sports

Las Vegas got fireworks again at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on Monday afternoon. UNLV put 14 runs on the board and still spent the final three innings chasing, because CSU Bakersfield turned the late frames into a parade of baserunners.

The Roadrunners scored 13 runs across the seventh, eighth and ninth innings and edged the Hustlin’ Rebels 17-14. The loss wasted a loud offensive day and a pregame spotlight for junior second baseman Marcos Rosales, who was named Mountain West Player of the Week before first pitch.

Player of the Week, then the plunk parade

Rosales took the honor after a monster week that included big swings against No. 22 Arizona State and a two-homer night in the Mountain West opener against San Jose State. Monday did not turn into another Rosales headline, but the game still revolved around free bases.

UNLV hit seven batters. CSU Bakersfield hit two. That is nine hit-by-pitches in a game that already had plenty of traffic, and it helped the late innings spin out fast.

UNLV built the lead with extra bases

Drew Barragan opened the day with a triple in the first, and Nin Burns II followed with his own triple to center to make it 1-0. One inning later, Jack Salmon sent a solo homer to straightaway center, and UNLV was up 2-0.

Another extra base hit for @DrewBarragan1!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/aaBnrQgwQa

— UNLV Baseball (@unlvbaseball) March 30, 2026

The score moved around after that, but UNLV kept answering. Gavin Taylor, who pinch hit in the fourth, delivered a two-run double to flip the lead. Barragan added a two-run double in the fifth. Cooper Sheff brought in another with an RBI groundout. Then Taylor went deep in the sixth, and UNLV carried an 8-4 cushion into the seventh.

Then the late innings showed up again

CSU Bakersfield started the comeback with a two-run homer in the seventh. After that, the eighth inning became the game. The Roadrunners scored seven runs in the frame, and the lead swung hard. UNLV answered with two runs in the bottom half, but it was still playing from behind.

The ninth added another twist. CSU Bakersfield scored four more to stretch it to 17-10. UNLV still made it interesting, because Jonny Rodriguez homered to start the bottom of the ninth and Sheff followed later with a two-run shot. However, the Rebels ran out of outs with the tying run still in the on-deck circle.

Vegas-worthy numbers

Gavin Taylor drove in four runs on a double, a homer and a sacrifice fly. Cooper Sheff added three RBI, including the late two-run homer that gave UNLV one more pulse. Drew Barragan finished 3-for-5 with a double and two triples, and Nin Burns II had two hits and two RBI, including the first-inning triple.

On the other side, CSU Bakersfield finished with 16 hits and used late pressure to force UNLV to use six pitchers.

Up next

UNLV stays home and opens a three-game series against New Mexico on Thursday, April 2 at 6:05 p.m. PT at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

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.