UNLV defeated UC Riverside 11-10 in a closely contested game on March 10 at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The Rebels built an early lead but had to withstand a late rally from the Highlanders to secure the win.
The outcome is significant as it improves UNLV’s record to 13-5, while UC Riverside falls to 4-13. The game featured several momentum shifts and highlighted both teams’ offensive capabilities.
UC Riverside took an early lead in the first inning, capitalizing on two errors by UNLV. Lucas Bonham hit an RBI double, scoring Miles Scott, and later scored himself on a wild pitch. UNLV responded in the bottom of the inning with Drew Barragan’s triple that brought home Marcos Rosales. In the second inning, Gunnar Myro tied the game with an RBI single before Reggie Bussey’s double gave UNLV a 4-2 advantage.
The Rebels extended their lead in the third inning when Myro hit a bases-clearing double and Bussey added another RBI single, making it 8-2. Additional runs came in the sixth inning through wild pitches and groundouts, pushing UNLV ahead 11-2. However, UC Riverside narrowed the gap with Robert Pitts’ three-run home run in the seventh and continued to chip away at the deficit in subsequent innings.
In a tense ninth inning, Jaxon Byrd doubled for UC Riverside and Bonham singled before an error allowed two more runs to score. With only one run separating the teams and runners on base, UNLV reliever Jacob Gomberg recorded a swinging strikeout to end the game.
Gunnar Myro led UNLV offensively with three hits and four runs batted in. Reggie Bussey contributed two hits and three RBIs, maintaining his strong performance this season. Reese Lueck earned his third win after pitching three innings without allowing any walks and striking out two batters.
Looking ahead, UNLV will travel for its next series as it opens Mountain West play against Air Force beginning Friday afternoon.
