LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — Carson Lane pitched five scoreless innings and the UNLV Runnin Rebels broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run fifth inning to defeat the San Diego State Aztecs 3-1 on Friday night at Earl Wilson Stadium in a Mountain West matchup.

Lane allowed three hits, walked none and struck out five over five innings, lowering his ERA after a dominant outing. He was followed by Jase Evangelista, who worked four innings of relief, surrendering one run on three hits with six strikeouts to earn the save. UNLV improved to 29-24 overall, while San Diego State fell to 33-21.

The game was scoreless through the first inning before San Diego State struck first in the top of the second. Tyce Peterson hit a solo home run to deep center field, giving the Aztecs a 1-0 lead. The Aztecs had loaded the bases in the first inning on a double by Zach Justice and walks to Griffin Trosky and Gavin Farrell, but left them stranded when Magpoc flied out.

UNLV answered in the bottom of the second. With one out, Nin Burns II homered to deep left field, driving in a run to tie the game at 1-1. Jonny Rodriguez followed with a single, but a double play grounded out by Sheff erased the baserunner, and Salmon struck out looking to end the inning.

Both pitching staffs settled in after that. San Diego State starter Bryce McKnight worked into the fifth inning, allowing three runs on five hits with two strikeouts. The Aztecs had a scoring chance in the top of the third when Jack doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch, but Justice struck out on a dropped third strike and Trosky grounded out.

Lane matched McKnight’s efficiency, retiring the side in order in the third and fourth innings. The Aztecs threatened again in the top of the fifth when Justice doubled and Trosky walked, but Farrell lined out to center field to end the inning.

The pivotal moment came in the bottom of the fifth. With the score tied 1-1, UNLV loaded the bases on a walk to Salmon, a hit by pitch to Taylor and a groundout by Myro that advanced the runners. Reggie Bussey then doubled to left field, scoring Salmon and putting UNLV ahead 2-1. Marcos Rosales followed with a double to right center, driving in Taylor and extending the lead to 3-1. After a walk to Barragan, San Diego State replaced McKnight with Aidan Russell, who struck out Burns II and Rodriguez to escape the inning.

Russell was outstanding in relief, pitching 3 1/3 hitless innings with two strikeouts, but the Aztecs could not mount a comeback. Evangelista took over in the top of the sixth and immediately allowed a leadoff home run to Peterson, his second of the game, cutting UNLV’s lead to 3-2. However, the Runnin Rebels defense tightened. Marnell singled and Kelly reached on a throwing error by Burns II, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Santana walked to load the bases, but Jack grounded into a double play, shortstop to second to first, ending the inning.

That was San Diego State’s final serious scoring threat. Evangelista retired the side in order in the seventh, despite a two-out error on a failed pickoff attempt that advanced Magpoc to second, but Kelly struck out swinging to end the inning. In the bottom of the eighth, UNLV’s defense turned another double play, with second baseman Rosales starting a 4-6-3 twin killing to erase a Burns II single.

San Diego State went down quietly in the ninth. Santana struck out looking, Jack struck out swinging, and Justice grounded out to third base to end the game.

Justice finished 2 for 5 with two doubles for the Aztecs. Peterson was 1 for 4 with two home runs and two RBIs, accounting for both San Diego State runs. For UNLV, Burns II went 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI, Rodriguez was 2 for 4, and Bussey and Rosales each drove in a run.

The game was a sharp contrast from the series opener Thursday, when San Diego State routed UNLV 15-1. The Interstat game simulator had projected San Diego State to win 8-6, while Interstat’s ELO system gave UNLV a 54.60 percent probability of victory. The two teams will close the series Saturday at Earl Wilson Stadium.