Milwaukee Athletics

MILWAUKEE – After scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at four, the Milwaukee baseball team was unable to contain the UNLV offense as the host Rebels won Friday evening's opener at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
 
Gavin Theis was touched up for four runs over the first five innings and struck out five, as he dueled with UNLV starter Parker Dillhoff, who allowed three runs over six innings and struck out 11 Panthers.
 
Tied at four, the Rebels scored three in the seventh to regain the lead and scored seven more in the bottom of the eighth to invoke the run rule and seal a 14-4 victory.
 
The middle of the Rebel lineup did the most damage, as Drew Barragan, Ayden Garcia, and Nin Burns II each collected two RBIs. Gavin Taylor also drove in a pair and scored a team-high three runs for UNLV.
 
"Tonight was a very disappointing ending to a good Friday game through 6 1/2 innings," said head coach Shaun Wegner. "We were able to score four runs on four hits with pressure on the bases and taking advantage of the run game. Tomorrow, we need more traffic on the bases and hits to try to put up more runs."
 
Theis and Dillhoff kept the game scoreless through the first two innings before Milwaukee broke through. Connor Bozak reached on a one-out single and later scored on a wild pitch.
 
UNLV answered with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead. Theis struck out three batters in the fourth but allowed two more runs in the fifth inning as the Rebels extended their advantage to 4-1.
 
The first three batters of the sixth inning reached for the Panthers, as Charlie Marion and Dylan O'Connell walked and Dominic Kibler was hit by a pitch. Joey Spence followed with a sacrifice fly, and a well-executed double steal allowed O'Connell to swipe home.
 
Mason Weckler came on in the bottom half and retired UNLV in order.
 
Bozak doubled with one out in the seventh, followed by walks from Grant Ross and Marion to fill the bases. O'Connell connected on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at four, but Milwaukee was unable to take the lead.
 
With two on and two out in the bottom of the inning, UNLV capitalized on several Milwaukee miscues, using a wild pitch and a passed ball before a run-scoring single made it 7-4.
 
The Panthers went down in order in the eighth, and UNLV scored seven runs in the bottom half to close out the game.
 
"We needed to finish tonight's game better and not allow it to spiral the way it did in the eighth," said Wegner. "We'll get some arms back tomorrow and increase the depth, which will be important for the rest of the weekend."
 
Marion finished 2-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases, while O'Connell and Spence accounted for Milwaukee RBIs.
 
Ryan Marton earned the win for UNLV, tossing 1 2/3 hitless innings with two strikeouts.
 
Milwaukee and UNLV will meet again on Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m. (CT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.