Eighth-inning hit lifts Rebels to baseball win at Riverside

Max Smith’s eighth-inning double drove in the decisive run in UNLV’s 5-4 win over UC Riverside in a nonconference baseball game Wednesday in Riverside, Calif.

Corey Wilson (1-0) pitched the final two innings, issuing one walk and striking out the side in the ninth, as the Rebels (5-6) swept the two-game set with the Highlanders (5-9) and won their third straight.

Vince Taormina, who walked during UNLV’s winning rally, finished 2-for-3 with an RBI single in the second that opened the scoring.

Casey Worden and Mark Contreras hit consecutive RBI doubles in Riverside’s three-run second.

The Rebels tied the score at 3 in the third on an RBI double by Payton Squier and Corey Pool’s sacrifice fly.

Michael Farris put the Highlanders up 4-3 in the third with an RBI groundout, and Justin Jones’ sixth-inning homer tied the score at 4.

UNLV starter Blaze Bohall gave up four runs on eight hits and one walk in three innings.