After coming from behind to beat No. 23 Texas in extra innings in its Feb. 19 season opener, UNLV was poised to pull off another dramatic comeback victory over a Big 12 conference team in its home opener against West Virginia on Friday night at Wilson Stadium.
The Rebels tied the game at 6 in the eighth inning after erasing an early five-run deficit and had the bases loaded and a 3-and-0 count on Nick Rodriguez.
But Rodriguez grounded into an inning-ending fielder's choice on a close play at second on a 3-and-2 pitch, and the Mountaineers scored three in the ninth to escape with a 9-6 victory before an announced crowd of 1,666.