LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Nathaniel Garley pitched seven complete innings against UNLV on Saturday night and limited the Rebels to three runs with four strikeouts, but a five-run eighth combined with a stymied Lobo offense led to an 8-0 win for UNLV setting up the rubber game of the series on Sunday.
The Rebels (17-12, 5-6 MW) got two of the three runs off of Garley in the first inning thanks to a two-run home run off the bat of Jack-Thomas Wold. Garley began to settle in after that and retired the Rebels in order in the second and third innings.
In the fourth, a leadoff hit-by-pitch issued by Garley came around to score on a RBI double to make it 3-0 UNLV. The Rebels would get at least one hit off of Garley in each of the next three innings, but no further damage in the run column would come.
The biggest stress to holding the Rebels off the board came in Garley’s final inning in the seventh. In that inning, UNLV quickly loaded the bases with no outs on three-straight singles. Despite the daunting predicament, Garley would get a fielder’s choice and highlight reel unassisted double play from Justin Watari to end the inning without a run scoring.
After seven complete innings, Garley and the Lobos had danced in and out trouble, but the game was still within reach at 3-0. After not being able to register a hit in the top of the eighth, the Rebels broke the game wide open in the bottom half and put it out of reach with a five-run frame to make it 8-0.
In the top of the ninth, the Lobos were staring down the possibility of being no-hit for the first time since 1990. After the first two batters were retired, the possibility grew greater and came down to one final strike. With a full count, Hayden Schilling drew a walk to extend the inning and game to Jared Mang. Mang then proceeded to single through the left side to break up the no-hit bid. The Rebels then went to the bullpen for the final out of the game.
The rubber game of the series will be played on Sunday with an earlier start time than originally scheduled. First-pitch will now be at 1 p.m. (MT) and the Lobos will hand the ball to Drew Gillespie for the start.
Garley goes 7.0; bats silenced on Saturday at UNLV
