SANTA CLARA, Calif. — UNLV is starting to win the same game over and over. Get ahead early, absorb the push, and finish late. Saturday followed that script again, as a three-run first inning gave the Rebels control, the middle innings made it uncomfortable, and a two-run ninth provided just enough separation in an 8-5 win over Santa Clara. UNLV moves to 9-2 and extends its winning streak to seven.

It didn’t take long to grab momentum. Marcos Rosales reached to open the game, and Drew Barragan followed with a double that immediately put pressure on the defense. After a walk loaded the bases, Cooper Sheff delivered, ripping a double down the right-field line to bring all three runners home. Just like that, it was 3-0. They added on in the fourth when Gunnar Myro drove in Sheff, and in the fifth, Ayden Garcia gave them more room with a two-run home run to right-center. At 6-3, it felt like the game was settling into their hands.

It didn’t stay there. Santa Clara answered with three runs in the fourth, then chipped in two more in the sixth to cut it to 6-5. The energy shifted, and what had been controlled turned into something that needed to be managed. That’s usually where things get interesting, but the Rebels kept it from going further. Colton Sundloff worked through traffic and limited the damage, and LJ Manning followed with clean innings to carry the lead into the late stages. No panic. Just enough execution.

The game turned again in the ninth. With two outs, Rosales was hit by a pitch and quickly got himself into scoring position by stealing second. Jonny Rodriguez worked a walk, and Drew Barragan did the same to load the bases. No hit needed. A fielding error at shortstop allowed two runs to score, stretching the lead to 8-5. That was all they needed. Jacob Gomberg handled the rest, closing the final two innings with three strikeouts to lock down his second save.

They finished with eight hits and struck out 11 times. Not perfect. Not clean. But they built the lead, handled the one stretch where it could have flipped, and finished it when the opportunity showed up. That’s becoming a trend.

The Rebels will go for the sweep Sunday at noon on ESPN+.

Lineups

UNLV

Marcos Rosales, 2B Jonny Rodriguez, 1B Drew Barragan, 3B Ayden Garcia, DH Nin Burns II, RF Cooper Sheff, SS Jack Salmon, LF Gavin Taylor, C Gunnar Myro, CF

Santa Clara

Thomas Ferroggiaro, 2B Ben Cleary, SS Max Ross, DH Tate Medicoff, 1B Payton Lambert, CF Luke Devine, RF Bryant Viskovich, LF Camden Sos, 3B Koen Carston, C

Game Stats

Rebels Offense

Cooper Sheff: 2-for-4, 3 RBI Ayden Garcia: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI Drew Barragan: 2-for-4, BB, 2 runs Marcos Rosales: 1-for-4, 2 runs, SB, HBP Gunnar Myro: 2-for-4, RBI

Rebels Pitching

Parker Dillhoff: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K Colton Sundloff (W, 1-0): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K LJ Manning: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K Jacob Gomberg (S, 2): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 K

Santa Clara Key Performers

Ben Cleary: 2 RBI Luke Devine: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 runs Thomas Ferroggiaro: 2-for-2, 4 BB

Santa Clara Pitching

Jace Gillmore (L, 0-1): 4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 7 K Brayden Dotoli: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER Chase Ruden: 2.2 IP, 0 ER (2 unearned)