U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth Mountain West conference opener that saw 26 runs and 28 hits, the Air Force Falcons outlasted the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels 15-11 on Saturday at Falcon Field.

The victory in the first game of a doubleheader gave Air Force its second straight win in the series after a 16-5 triumph on Friday. The Falcons improved to 6-11 overall, while UNLV fell to 13-8.

The game’s decisive turn came in the bottom of the fourth inning, erasing what had been a sizable UNLV lead. The Runnin’ Rebels had exploded for seven runs in the top of the first, highlighted by a three-run homer from Ayden Garcia, and added four more in the third on Gunnar Myro’s three-run double to lead 11-4.

Air Force began chipping away in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer from Walker Zapp and a two-run single from Cam Anstey. They pulled within 11-7 by the end of the fourth before unleashing a game-altering rally.

With UNLV starter Felix Ong struggling, the Falcons loaded the bases with one out in the fourth. Reliever LJ Manning entered but could not stem the tide. Tripp Garrish drew a walk to force in a run, and Luke Elmore followed with a two-run single through the right side, tying the game at 11. The Falcons sent 11 men to the plate in the inning, scoring six runs to take a 12-11 lead they would not relinquish.

The Falcons extended their advantage in the fifth on a two-run homer from Kayden Bradshaw and put the game out of reach in the seventh. After a Walker Zapp groundout brought in a run, Wyatt Hanoian cleared the bases with a two-run triple, making it 15-11.

UNLV threatened in the eighth, scoring twice on an RBI triple from Nin Burns II and a run-scoring single from Cooper Sheff to cut the deficit to 15-11, but could draw no closer.

Air Force reliever Jordan Watkins earned the win with four scoreless innings of work, allowing six hits and striking out three after entering in the third. UNLV’s Felix Ong took the loss, surrendering 10 earned runs on just three hits and four walks over 3 2/3 innings.

Garcia finished 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored for UNLV, which tallied 13 hits. Bradshaw led Air Force’s 15-hit attack, going 4-for-5 with a home run, a triple, a double, four RBIs and four runs scored. Elmore added two hits and two RBIs for the Falcons.