UNLV Rebels Achieve Victory Over Washington State in Series Finale

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UNLV baseball team celebrates their 5-2 win over Washington State in Bailey-Brayton Field.

News Summary

The UNLV Hustlin’ Rebels baseball team secured a notable 5-2 victory against Washington State, concluding their weekend series and improving their overall record to 28-22. The match, marked by strong performances from players like Mikey Cruz Jr. and Brendan O’Sullivan, helped the Rebels maintain fourth place in the Mountain West standings. Despite a brief setback from a two-run home run by the Cougars, UNLV regained the lead and closed out the game with a solid pitching performance, solidifying their path as they prepare for a crucial series against Air Force.

Pullman, WA – The UNLV Hustlin’ Rebels baseball team achieved a significant milestone on Sunday afternoon, securing a 5-2 victory over Washington State and concluding their weekend series at Bailey-Brayton Field. This win advances the Rebels’ overall record to 28-22 and their conference record to 13-14 in the Mountain West Conference.

The Rebels’ triumph keeps them in fourth place in the Mountain West standings with just one weekend left in the regular season. The game showcased a spirited performance from the team, particularly from players like Mikey Cruz Jr. and Brendan O’Sullivan, who both made crucial contributions to the victory.

Action began in the top of the second inning when Mikey Cruz Jr. sparked the scoring with a one-out single. Brendan O’Sullivan then expanded the team’s momentum with a double down the left field line. Cruz Jr. crossed home plate shortly after, courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Chase Gallegos, giving UNLV an early 1-0 lead.

Washington State responded in the bottom of the third inning. Max Hartman hit a two-run home run that shifted the game’s momentum momentarily, allowing the Cougars to take a 2-1 lead.

However, the Rebels quickly regained the advantage in the fourth inning. Cruz Jr. recorded his second hit of the day—a single to left field—which set the stage for O’Sullivan’s second double of the game. A mishap by the Cougar center fielder enabled O’Sullivan to reach third base, and Dean Toigo then drove in an RBI single, bringing Cruz Jr. home and reinstating UNLV’s lead at 3-2.

UNLV’s pitching staff proved resilient after Hartman’s home run, successfully shutting down Washington State’s scoring attempts. The Rebels extended their lead further with additional runs in the eighth and ninth innings. In the eighth, Dwight Allen II led off with a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly by O’Sullivan, who finished the game with two RBIs.

In the ninth inning, JP Hefft was hit by a pitch, managed to steal second base, and then scored on a clutch single from Cooper Sheff. This solidified the score at 5-2 in favor of the Rebels.

Mason Dillow and Alex Overbay were instrumental in the final two innings of the game. Overbay, in particular, delivered an impressive performance, striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning, earning his seventh save of the season.

Sam Simon, UNLV’s starting pitcher, marked his third win of the season with a strong showing. He pitched seven innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, one walk, and recorded one strikeout.

Individually, Cruz Jr. shone brightly during the game, achieving a career-high of four hits, finishing with a perfect 4-for-4 performance that included four singles and one run scored. Toigo extended his hitting streak to 17 games; however, his run of eight consecutive multi-hit games came to an end. Koniaraky also made his mark with a 2-for-5 showing, equaling the second-most doubles on the UNLV team this season with a total of 12.

Next up, the Rebels will host Air Force for a three-game series starting on Thursday, May 15, through Saturday, May 17. The series will hold significant meaning for the team as they honor their 14 seniors during this event.