UNLV dropped the rubber match Saturday and with it the series.
New Mexico broke open a close game with four runs in the seventh and four more in the ninth, beating the Rebels 12-2 at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Lobos took two of three in Las Vegas, while UNLV fell to 18-14 overall and 3-6 in Mountain West play.
Second inning set the tone
The game stayed quiet until New Mexico jumped on Ryan Marton in the second. Akili Carris lined a two-run single to center, and Anthony Diaz followed with a two-run single to left to make it 4-0.
That was enough for a while because UNLV could not do much against Ryan Castillo, who held the Rebels to one run on three hits over six innings.
Rebels could not cash in
UNLV finally scored in the sixth when Reggie Bussey walked, Marcos Rosales singled, and Drew Barragan grounded into a double play that brought Bussey home. That cut the deficit to 4-1, but the Rebels could not build on it.
UNLV finished with six hits and did not record an RBI. Its second run came in the ninth when Rosales scored on a New Mexico error.
Lobos pulled away late
Reese Lueck kept UNLV in the game for a while, but the seventh inning got away. Brodey Williams ripped a three-run double down the right-field line, and Carris added an RBI single to push the lead to 8-1.
New Mexico piled on again in the ninth. Carris drove in one with a sacrifice fly, Khalil Walker doubled home another, and Karsen Waslefsky added a two-run single to stretch it to 12-1.
A few bright spots
Rosales went 2-for-4 and scored both UNLV runs. Barragan doubled and later added a ninth-inning single. Jayden Hertel and Jonny Rodriguez each had late singles, but the offense never found any real rhythm.
On the mound, Lueck gave the Rebels four innings and struck out seven, though he was charged with three runs. Marton took the loss and fell to 0-3.
Up next
UNLV heads to Tempe next for a Tuesday game at Arizona State before returning to Mountain West play next weekend at Grand Canyon.
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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.
