Rebels Walk-Off In Season Opener; Defeating Reno 3-2

It had been 11 months since the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels took the diamond at Earl Wilson Stadium. Along with an cancelation of the planned opening series against New Mexico, the anticipation seemingly had boiled over. The hiatus had finally come to an end on Saturday afternoon, as the Rebels welcomed the University of Nevada Wolfpack in a double header. Winning game one via a ninth inning walk-off, by the score of 3-2.

A two-run first inning for the Rebels was enough to carry the lead all the way into the top of the ninth. Third baseman Diego Alacrcon singled to center scoring a run, followed by first baseman Austin Pfeifer singing right back up the middle scoring another. 

The lead lasted off of the right arm of Chase Maddux. Maddux pitched 8 ⅔ innings, five strikeouts and the two runs earned in the top of the ninth halted his eight scoreless. Maddux, was backed by two key great defensive efforts. In the fifth a diving stop by Alacrcon helped turn a double-play to escape the inning. And in the 8th, James Gamble made a spectacular catch along the wall in deep center field. 

The UNLV clubhouse was electric the entire game, chattering away and calling out teammates' nicknames at each at bat. Even when the two-run lead was squandered, the energy was still radiating off of the dugout. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Eric Bigani stepped to the plate with two outs and Alacrcon as the winning run on third. A hot shot to second was bobbled by Reno’s Tyler Bosetti resulting in the throw being wayward and not in time.

As Alacrcon crossed the plate, the UNLV clubhouse flooded onto the field at once. Shouting and jumping in unison as they stormed Bigani around the first base bag, the small crowd rose to their feet in a roar for the Rebels as for the first time in a long 11 months, baseball was back.