Las Vegas got fireworks again at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on Monday afternoon. UNLV put 14 runs on the board and still spent the final three innings chasing, because CSU Bakersfield turned the late frames into a parade of baserunners.
The Roadrunners scored 13 runs across the seventh, eighth and ninth innings and edged the Hustlin’ Rebels 17-14. The loss wasted a loud offensive day and a pregame spotlight for junior second baseman Marcos Rosales, who was named Mountain West Player of the Week before first pitch.
Player of the Week, then the plunk parade
Rosales took the honor after a monster week that included big swings against No. 22 Arizona State and a two-homer night in the Mountain West opener against San Jose State. Monday did not turn into another Rosales headline, but the game still revolved around free bases.
UNLV hit seven batters. CSU Bakersfield hit two. That is nine hit-by-pitches in a game that already had plenty of traffic, and it helped the late innings spin out fast.
UNLV built the lead with extra bases
Drew Barragan opened the day with a triple in the first, and Nin Burns II followed with his own triple to center to make it 1-0. One inning later, Jack Salmon sent a solo homer to straightaway center, and UNLV was up 2-0.