Box Score MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A five-run eighth inning and a walk-off two-out single in the ninth sent the West Virginia University baseball team to an 8-7 victory over UNLV in the second game of a doubleheader on Friday afternoon.
 
The Mountaineers (12-15) trailed 7-1 at one point, but scored a run in the sixth and five in the eighth before junior second baseman Kyle Gray singled home the game-winning run with two outs in the ninth inning. The WVU bullpen held the Rebels (23-10) hitless in the final 4.0 innings.
 
"Our offense was going to wake up at any moment," WVU coach Randy Mazey said. "Hopefully, the eighth inning today is going to propel us into the future, because we need to catch a rhythm offensively. Getting big hits like Kyle Gray did and Chase Illig did in the eighth inning, that's how you get momentum. Hitting is contagious. The other guys in the dugout see that and, like I said, hopefully, that'll carry over into the rest of the season.
 
Gray's game-winning hit in the ninth came after West Virginia scored five runs in the eighth on four hits. Sophomore pinch hitter Chase Illig hit a three-run double to bring WVU within one, at 7-6, and a groundout tied the game at 7-7.
 
Gray led the team with two hits and two RBIs, while Illig had a hit and three RBIs. Sophomore designated hitter Marques Inman also had two hits and scored three runs. He hit his second home run of the day after homering in Friday's first game.
 
On the mound, senior right-hander Shane Ennis pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win and improve to 4-2 on the season. His outing came after junior right-hander Christian Young pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and sophomore righty Dillon Meadows got all three outs in the eighth.
 
UNLV scored four runs in the first inning, on four hits. Back-to-back hits to lead off the inning were followed by an RBI double, RBI groundout and two-run home run by Max Smith.
 
West Virginia got a run back in the second inning to make it 4-1. Inman led off the inning with a single and scored on an RBI base hit by junior third baseman Andrew Zitel.
 
Meanwhile, sophomore right-handed starter Kade Strowd retired the order in the second and stranded one in the third and another in the fourth.
 
The Rebels added three runs in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 7-1. With two outs, an RBI double brought home two runs, and an RBI single followed.
 
Inman's one-out home run in the sixth inning brought the Mountaineers within five, at 7-2.
 
Young pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings, leaving one on in the sixth and two in the seventh. Meadows followed with a scoreless eighth, coming in after a leadoff walk was issued by Young.
 
Then, the Mountaineers stormed back with five runs on four hits in the eighth to tie the game at 7. With the bases loaded, Gray singled through the right side to bring in the first run. Illig followed with a bases-clearing double to left-center to make it a one-run game, 7-6. With one out and freshman pinch-runner Tyler Doanes on third base, junior shortstop Jimmy Galusky grounded out to score Doanes.
 
In the ninth, junior left fielder Braden Zarbnisky led off the inning with a walk. He was bunted to second and stole third. He scored on Gray's two-out single to center.
 
The series finale will take place on Sunday, April 8, at noon ET. With inclement weather expected in the Morgantown area tomorrow, Saturday's game was moved to Friday as part of the doubleheader.
 
Tickets are available on game day at Monongalia County Ballpark. Sunday is the first Kids Day of the year, which features a new Kids Zone Presented by WVU Medicine Children's with inflatables and Mr. Twister's Balloon Art and Face Painting. Additionally, kids can run the bases after the game.
 
Sunday's game will feature a free video stream, radio broadcast and live stats. Dan Zangrilli and Ernie Galusky will call the action. The free video stream is available on WVUsports.com and the WVU Gameday App. Fans can listen to the game on the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG on various affiliates throughout the state, while fans across the country can tune in to the broadcast online at WVUsports.com and on the WVU Gameday App and the TuneIn App on their mobile device. Direct links to the video stream, radio broadcast and live stats can be found on the baseball schedule page on WVUsports.com.
 
NOTES: West Virginia improves to 12-15 on the season and 4-2 at home … WVU leads the all-time series vs. UNLV, 5-2 … Kyle Gray had his first game-winning hit of the season … Shane Ennis improves to 4-2 in 2018 … Marques Inman hit his sixth career home run, third of the season and second of the day in the sixth inning … Inman also homered in today's first game.
 
Season tickets, single game tickets and mini-packages for the 2018 season are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets at WVUGAME.com, call 1-800-WVU GAME or visit the Mountaineer Ticket Office at the WVU Coliseum. The 2018 schedule, with game times, can be found on the baseball schedule page on WVUsports.com. A printable PDF and schedule breakdown also are available on WVUsports.com.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow WVU Baseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and visit WVUsports.com.