Four-run first lifts Rebels

UNLV scored four runs in the first inning and defeated San Diego State 6-3 in a Mountain West Conference baseball game Friday in San Diego.

Craig Heyer (5-7) got the victory for the Rebels (16-31, 5-11 MWC), allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts in eight innings. Adam Moser pitched the ninth and got his third save.

The Aztecs lost their sixth straight and fell to 27-23 and 11-8.

UNLV scored its first-inning runs with two out against San Diego State starter Bruce Billings.

Kevin Smith and Efren Navarro Jr. singled, and Xavier Scruggs drew a walk to load the bases. Blake Gailen followed with a two-run single, and Rance Roundy capped the scoring with a two-run double.

The Rebels scored a run in the fifth on Navarro’s RBI groundout and one in the seventh on Ryan Kowalski’s run-scoring single.

Kowalski, Smith and Roundy each had two of UNLV’s nine hits.

The three-game series continues at 1 p.m. today.

• CCSN SOFTBALL — At Salt Lake City, the Community College of Southern Nevada was dumped into the losers bracket after a 5-2 loss to North Idaho in the NJCAA Region 18 softball tournament.

The Coyotes (31-17) will play Southern Idaho at noon today in the losers bracket final. The winner will play North Idaho for the championship in the double-elimination tournament at 2:30 p.m., with a second game, if necessary, at 5.

CCSN managed only five hits and its runs were unearned against North Idaho starter Kelsey Cavan, who struck out 12 and walked three in a complete game.

The Coyotes took a 2-0 lead with a run in the first and one in the third, but North Idaho tied the game in the fourth and took a 4-2 lead in the sixth.

Kelly Griego took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts. She went 1-for-2 with two walks and scored a run.