LAS VEGAS (UNLVrebels.com) – Before traveling back to The Earl for their senior weekend, the UNLV baseball team (24-20) made a quick stop at UC Riverside (12-27) on Tuesday afternoon for a nonconference matchup. After the Rebels run-ruled the Highlanders last week, the Scarlet & Gray took down UCR once again, this time on a 13-7 final score.
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Austin Kryszczuk continued his hot streak at the plate with a long ball in the top of the first inning, slamming a home run past the left field fence for an early 1-0 lead.
- After UCR responded with a homer of their own, the top of the second inning would feature a third home run to put the Hustlin' Rebels back in the lead, credited by Brendan O'Sullivan.
- The bottom of the second inning served as the Highlanders' strongest performance at the plate on the night, scoring five runs to push a 6-2 lead.
- The game would calm down in the third, Dylan Rogers stepping in on the mound in relief and escape the inning holding the score.
- The Rebels inched closer after a handful of singles from Kade Higgins and O'Sullivan, Santino Panaro hitting a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to score Higgins.
- UNLV erupted in the top of the fifth inning, Alex Pimentel slapping a two-RBI single down the left field line to tie the game at six runs each. O'Sullivan would soon after tact on the go-ahead run on another sacrifice fly for the Rebels.
- Albert Roblez and Pierce Kingston would hold the Highlanders in the sixth and the seventh innings, keeping UCR at six as they extended their lead.
- That addition to the lead came from Pimentel, the outfielder blasting a homerun past left-center field for three RBI and the 10-6 lead.
- UCR struck back in the bottom of the eighth, hitting a solo home run to cut the lead to three.
- Chase Ditmar capitalized on a tough UCR throw after his double to right field, sliding to third base and then crossing home plate on an error for an insurance run in the top of the ninth.
- O'Sullivan & Panaro would drive in the final insurance runs, the former with his RBI-single to left field that drove home Kryszczuk and the latter's double to right-center field bringing in O'Sullivan. 
 

Have a day, Alex Pimentel. 🤝 #BEaREBEL pic.twitter.com/YOE2SRPdND

— UNLV Baseball ⚾️ (@unlvbaseball) April 30, 2024

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Pimentel's team-leading five RBI in Tuesday's contest marked a season high for the senior, the home run being his second of the season.
- Kryszczuk's 14th home run of the season is his fifth in the last five games, his third-consecutive game with a homer.
- O'Sullivan's three RBI against UCR tallied his ninth time this season he's had more than one in a single contest, totaling 27 now on the season.
- UNLV's streak of 198-consecutive games of scoring at least one run in a contest continues, a streak stretching back to the 2021 season.    

UP NEXT
The Rebels will head back to Las Vegas for their final weekend at The Earl during the regular season, hosting New Mexico from Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5. They'll celebrate their seniors during Sunday's contest, the Friday showdown kicking off at 6:05 p.m. PT.