LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth Mountain West conference game defined by a staggering eighth-inning outburst, the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels stormed back to defeat the San Jose State Spartans 15-8 on Saturday at Earl Wilson Stadium.

The game’s most critical sequence came in the bottom of the eighth, with the score tied 8-8. The Runnin’ Rebels sent 14 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs on five hits, four walks, and a crucial error to turn a deadlocked contest into a decisive rout. The inning featured RBI singles from Jayden Hertel and Kade Myro, a bases-loaded walk from Marcos Rosales, and a run-scoring walk from Ayden Garcia, all capitalizing on faltering San Jose State relief pitching.

The victory improved UNLV’s record to 17-10 overall, while San Jose State fell to 11-14.

The game began in bizarre fashion, with San Jose State scoring two runs in the top of the first without a hit, capitalizing on a walk, a double, and two wild pitches from UNLV starter Parker Dillhoff. The Spartans held that 2-0 lead until the bottom of the third, when the Runnin’ Rebels’ offense erupted for five runs to take control. The rally was keyed by a two-run double from Rosales, an RBI double from Drew Barragan, and a two-run double from Braden Sheff.

Dillhoff, despite the shaky first inning, settled in to deliver a dominant performance, earning the win. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out a career-high 12 batters. His effort stifled the Spartan lineup through the middle innings and kept his team in position for the late rally.

San Jose State chipped away, scoring an unearned run in the fifth and another in the sixth to close the gap to 6-7. UNLV responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double from Garcia and a run-scoring single from Hertel to make it 8-6.

The Spartans showed resilience in the top of the eighth, mounting a four-run, two-out rally to tie the game. Pinch-hitter Klein delivered an RBI single, Jack hit a sacrifice fly, and Alex Fernandes launched a two-run home run to deep right field, knotting the score at 8-8 and setting the stage for UNLV’s game-deciding half-inning.

UNLV reliever Colton Sundloff pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the win. San Jose State’ Kyle Calzadiaz took the loss in relief, charged with three runs over 3 2/3 innings.

Offensively, UNLV’s 15-hit attack was led by Barragan, who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Rosales, who drove in three runs. Garcia and Hertel each added three RBIs. San Jose State collected 12 hits, with Fernandes’ two-run homer representing the biggest blow.

The result defied the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 7-6 San Jose State victory, though it aligned with the system’s pregame probability giving UNLV a 59.7% chance to win.

The two teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday.