UNLV 3, Nevada 2
Friday, March 22, 2024
Reno, Nev. - Don Weir Field at Peccole Park

WP: Jesus Gonzalez (1-1)
LP: Ethan O'Neal (1-2)

RENO, Nev. - UNLV scored twice in the ninth to tie the game, then an inside-the-park home run from Rylan Charles proved the difference in the Rebels' 10-inning, 3-2 win over Nevada in Friday's Silver State Series presented by America First Credit Union opener.

Charles, a Reno native, led off the top of the ninth with a home run, spoiling what had been to that point a scoreless outing from Nevada starter Jason Doktorczyk.

JP Hefft followed with a single before Doktorczyk got consecutive fly outs to left to put the Wolf Pack an out from the win. But Austin Kryszczuk and Parker Schmidt had back-to-back singles to left, with Schmidt's tying the game at 2-2.

With two outs in the 10th, Charles hit a sinking line drive to right off of Wolf Pack reliever Ethan O'Neal, which got under the glove of the diving Bryce Matthews and rolled to the wall. Charles circled the bases, beating the relay home to give the Rebels the lead.

It was an undeserved no-decision for Doktorczyk, who struck out nine and went eight scoreless before Charles' solo shot in the ninth. The Rebels managed just three hits over the first eight innings, and only one runner in scoring position, that being a two-out double in the eighth by pinch-hitter Alex Pimentel.

Nevada (8-11, 4-3 MW) struck first on Derek Tenney's RBI double which plated Justin Acal in the second. Michael Ball added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it 2-0.

UNLV (13-8, 3-4 MW) got seven innings of two-run ball from starter Austin Cates, before he yielded to Jesus Gonzalez to start the eighth. Gonzalez got his first win, going three scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. O'Neal fell to 1-2 with the loss for Nevada.

The teams run it back Saturday for a 2:05 p.m. first pitch.