UNLV Rebels Fall to Air Force Falcons in Nail-Biter

Categories: College University AthleticsCollege/University NewsEducation

UNLV baseball team played a thrilling match against Air Force Falcons at Erdle Field.

News Summary

In a closely contested baseball matchup, the UNLV Hustlin’ Rebels narrowly lost to the Air Force Falcons with a score of 10-9. UNLV led at various points, including a 7-5 advantage heading into the seventh inning, but a powerful five-run inning from Air Force turned the tide. Key performances included Chase Ditmar and JP Hefft for the Rebels, while Walker Zapp’s home run was crucial for the Falcons. The Rebels’ chance for redemption comes as they prepare for Game 2 of the series on Friday.

Las Vegas – The UNLV Hustlin’ Rebels fell to the Air Force Falcons in a thrilling baseball match on Sunday afternoon at Erdle Field, with a final score of 10-9. This defeat leaves UNLV with a record of 18 wins and 18 losses, including 5 wins and 10 losses in the Mountain West Conference (MW). Conversely, Air Force improved their overall record to 14 wins and 22 losses, with a conference record of 7 wins and 8 losses.

UNLV entered the seventh inning with a 7-5 lead, but the game took a turning point when Air Force executed a five-run inning, significantly altering the game’s momentum. This surge was highlighted by a solo home run, propelling the Falcons to an eventual 10-7 advantage.

The Rebels initially gained the upper hand in the game, scoring three unearned runs in the second inning due to defensive errors by Air Force. Key contributors to this inning included Chase Ditmar and JP Hefft, who both recorded RBI singles, along with a run driven in by Elijah Rodriguez. UNLV continued to build on their lead with three more runs in the fourth inning, featuring RBI hits from Hefft and Rodriguez, alongside a sacrifice fly from Dean Toigo, bringing the score to 6-2 in favor of the Rebels.

In the sixth inning, Hefft extended UNLV’s lead with a solo home run – his third hit of the contest – pushing the score to 7-2. However, Air Force’s lineup responded, scoring three runs in the sixth inning, which included three walks and an RBI single from Zach Peters, trimming UNLV’s lead to just two runs.

The crucial seventh inning marked a significant comeback for Air Force, starting with a impactful solo home run from Walker Zapp. The Falcons sent nine players to the plate during their explosive inning, capped off by a two-run double from Ben Niednagel. This barrage of scoring allowed Air Force to surge ahead 10-7.

In a final offensive push, the Hustlin’ Rebels attempted to narrow the deficit in the eighth inning, with Rodriguez contributing an RBI single and Toigo adding a sacrifice fly that brought the score to 10-9. Rodriguez had an impressive performance overall, recording three hits and driving in three RBIs while reaching base four times during the game.

UNLV’s efforts to mount a comeback in the ninth inning fell short despite a single from pinch-hitter Mikey Cruz Jr. After Alex Overbay took the loss for UNLV, pitching 1.2 innings of relief, allowing five hits and five earned runs, the Rebels were unable to capitalize on their chances.

This loss is a setback for UNLV, especially following Dean Toigo’s impressive display in the preceding game against Air Force, where he hit his 17th home run of the season, leading the Mountain West Conference with his power at the plate.

The teams will meet again for Game 2 of the series, scheduled for Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, providing UNLV an opportunity to rebound from this hard-fought loss and improve their conference record.