LAS VEGAS – Utah baseball used a big first inning and then a huge ninth inning to defeat the UNLV Rebels in Las Vegas, Nevada, 16-7.

After leading all game, UNLV scored four runs in the eighth inning to get their first lead of the game at 7-6. Utah came right back though and scored 10 runs in the ninth inning to go up 16-7 and seal the victory.

The 16 runs are the most the Utes have scored in a game since 2017, when they plated 23 against Utah Valley.

Utah got off to a great start in the midweek contest, scoring five runs in the first inning. The Utes batted around in the opening frame and they did all of their damage with two outs. Christian Almanza and Chandler Anderson both had two RBI and Isaac Cruz had one to open up the early 5-0 lead.

The Utes held the lead most of the way until UNLV scored one run in the seventh and four in the eighth to surge ahead 7-6.

Despite trailing for the first time heading into the top of the ninth, Utah had a rally in them. The Utes sent 15 men to the plate scoring 10 runs on seven hits to go up 16-7. After Anderson picked up two more RBI with a single up the middle and Chase Fernlund got an RBI, the Utes reloaded the bases setting the stage for Zack Moeller to launch a grand slam to break the game open.

Moeller went 2-6 on the afternoon, but made his two hits count as he had six RBI in the game. Other Utah players with multiple RBI were Anderson with 4 and Almanza and Cruz with two.

Every batter in Utah’s lineup scored at least one run in the game. 

Brett Brocoff got the start and went 6.0 strong innings and only gave up two runs on five hits. With the late UNLV rally to briefly take the lead, Zac McCleve (1-0) ended up getting the win after pitching 2.0 innings and only giving up one run.

The win is the second in a row for Utah bringing their record to 3-4 on the season. This weekend they’ll be flying east to play in a tournament at East Carolina. After taking on the hosts on Friday, they’ll play Western Carolina on Saturday and Wright State on Sunday.