UNLV buries Fresno State early as Rodriguez hits three homers

Rebels bury Fresno early

UNLV jumped ahead 3-0 in the first on a two-run double from Nin Burns II and an RBI single from Jayden Hertel. Then the Rebels poured on seven more in the second, with Burns adding a two-run single, Rodriguez hitting his first homer, and Gavin Taylor capping the inning with a three-run homer to left.

By the time Fresno State came to the plate in the second, UNLV already led 10-0. The Bulldogs scored their only run in the third on a Michael Boyd ground-rule double, but the game was already tilted hard toward the Rebels.

Power keeps coming

UNLV finished with six home runs from four players. Drew Barragan opened the sixth with a solo shot, Rodriguez followed with his second homer, and Jack Salmon added a solo homer later in the inning before Rodriguez went deep again in the seventh.

Burns went 4-for-5 with a double, four RBI, three runs and a stolen base. Hertel finished 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, while Salmon went 2-for-5 with a double, homer and two runs.

Lane handles the mound

Carson Lane gave UNLV five steady innings and picked up the win. He allowed one run on six hits, walked three and struck out four.

Reese Lueck finished the final two innings, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out three. Fresno State had eight hits, but the Bulldogs scored only once and left too much traffic stranded.

Barragan streak keeps rolling

Barragan went 1-for-4 with a homer, a walk and two runs. He has now reached base in all 48 games he has played this season and in 49 straight dating back to last season at Western Kentucky.

Up next

UNLV goes for the series sweep Sunday against Fresno State at 1:05 p.m. in Fresno. The Rebels then return home for their final regular-season series against San Diego State, beginning Thursday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.