LAS VEGAS – The host UNLV Rebels came out on top in a one-run ballgame on Friday evening, edging the Milwaukee Panthers by a 4-3 score.
 
A solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning proved to be the difference maker in a game that was even at three runs through four innings.
 
Charlie Marion led Milwaukee with a two-run home run in the fourth, while Caden Headlee recorded his first home run as a Panther.
 
Gavin Theis got through 3 2/3 innings before giving way to Matthew Mueller. After getting through his first 2 1/3 innings, Mueller allowed the go-ahead home run in the seventh and took the loss.
 
"I tip my hat to all three of our pitchers tonight, they really competed well," commented head coach Shaun Wegner. "Offensively, however, we have to do a better job of handling the mistakes when we get them … we are just missing hittable pitches and then have to battle from behind in the count too often."
 
Headlee got the scoring started with a first-pitch leadoff home run in the top of the third inning. The Rebels responded right away in the bottom half of the frame with a three-run rally aided by a pair of Panther errors in the inning.
 
"We really fell victim to self-inflicted damage tonight," added Wegner. "Gavin was throwing the ball well enough to get a quality start and we just have to make a few plays behind him in those circumstances."
 
Tyler Bickers was first-pitch swinging in the fourth, reaching on a single ahead of Marion's two-run blast to right field to even the score at three.
 
Mueller went toe-to-toe with Rebel starter Carson Lane and later Will Marquart as the teams remained deadlocked into the seventh. UNLV's Cooper Sheff hit the go-ahead home run to put the Rebels ahead.
 
Milwaukee got runners into scoring position in both the eighth and ninth inning but were unable to bring home the tying runs as UNLV hung on for the win.
 
Zach Dohrmann came on in the bottom of the eighth and got the final out for the Panthers.
 
Lane did not factor into the decision for UNLV, finishing the game with 10 strikeouts over five innings of work. Marquart got the win after 2 2/3 hitless innings before Alex Overbay struck out three over 1 1/3 hitless innings to seal the win.
 
"Tomorrow will be a long and taxing day," Wegner continued. "We need to get some rest and get ready for the long haul … I know our guys are disappointed and want to get a better outcome."

Milwaukee and UNLV will meet for a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas, first pitch of game one is set for 2:05 p.m. (CT).
 
The opening game on Saturday is scheduled to be a seven-inning contest, followed by a nine-inning game after. In the event the opening game goes to extra innings and reaches nine innings, the second game will become the seven-inning contest.