LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — In a stunning offensive eruption, the San Jose State Spartans salvaged the final game of their Mountain West series with an 18-8 victory over the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels on Sunday evening at Earl Wilson Stadium.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded under the lights, saw the Spartans pound out 19 hits and overcome a series of early missed opportunities to explode for multiple big innings. The win improved San Jose State to 12-14 overall, while UNLV fell to 17-11.

The most important part of the game was San Jose State’s relentless response to UNLV’s first sign of life. After being shut out and held to just two hits through the first four innings by Spartans starter Dylan Smith, the Rebels broke through in the fifth. Nicky Garritano doubled and scored on a single by Alex Rosales. Drew Barragan then launched a two-run homer to cut a once-imposing deficit to a manageable 4-3.

Any momentum for the home team was immediately extinguished in the top of the sixth. The Spartans sent 11 men to the plate, scoring seven runs on six hits to blow the game open. The inning featured a sacrifice fly, two walks, and three key hits: a two-run single by Peyton Rowles, an RBI single by Kellen OsorioAgard, and a crushing three-run double by Brent Cota that pushed the lead to 11-3.

San Jose State was not done. They added six more runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by a solo homer from Jack McCoy and a three-run blast from Cota, his fourth hit of the game. Cota, the center fielder, finished 4 for 5 with a home run, a double, and six RBIs, rebounding strongly after quiet performances in the first two games of the series.

Catcher Dylan Jackson also provided a massive early spark for the Spartans. His grand slam in the second inning off UNLV starter Ryan Marton accounted for the game’s first runs and set the tone for the offensive onslaught. Jackson drove in five runs.

UNLV showed sporadic power in the loss. First baseman Jonny Rodriguez hit two solo home runs, and Barragan and designated hitter Cooper Sheff also homered for the Rebels. Garritano, who entered as a pinch-runner in the first inning, went 2 for 3 with an RBI double.

Smith earned the win for San Jose State despite a rocky fifth inning. He pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits while striking out five. The UNLV bullpen struggled mightily, combining to allow 14 runs over 5 2/3 innings after Marton’s early exit.

The result defied pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a narrow 7-6 Spartans victory, while its ELO system gave UNLV a 60.8 percent chance to win, a probability shattered by San Jose State’s offensive barrage.

The Spartans travel to face Santa Clara on Monday. UNLV remains at home to host Cal State Bakersfield, also on Monday.