FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team earned their seventh Mountain West series of 2024 with a 4-3 walk-off win over the UNLV Rebels.
This is the Bulldogs' 11th straight win over the Rebels and landed Fresno State in first place in the MW standings with a 16-10 record, a game ahead of second-place New Mexico.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rebels struck first with a lead-off double to start the game and an RBI single.
Eddie Saldivar and Rocco Peppi quickly got into scoring position in the bottom of the first, and Grady Morgan doubled to plate them both and take an early lead in the game.
UNLV tied the game in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to center field with runners on second and third. The tie game at two did not last long as back-to-back singles were hit by Saldivar and Peppi, followed by a double that sent Saldivar across the dish. Peppi made an attempt at a second run in the play but was thrown out from center field to the catcher and a collision with the catcher at home resulted in an ejection for Peppi.
Fresno State held the lead until the seventh inning when an RBI single from the Rebels tied the game at three.
After two scoreless innings, Michael McKernan stepped to the plate to open the bottom of the ninth inning and crushed his second career home run on the first pitch of the inning to give the Bulldogs the go-ahead walk-off run.
NOTES
Fresno State out-hit UNLV 54-50 and outscored them 34-18 this season.
The Bulldogs have won 11 straight games over the Rebels and will look for their fourth-straight sweep over UNLV in the series finale on Sunday.
Michael McKernan hit his second home run of his career for the Bulldogs' second walk-off of the season.
UP NEXT
The Diamond 'Dogs will celebrate Senior Day at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium before the series finale against UNLV on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.