Feb. 20, 2014
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team rallied for a 5-4 victory over the #25 Texas Longhorns in come-from-behind fashion with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Emily Haslinger and Samantha Juarez teamed up for back-to-back two-out RBI singles to tie and then win the game, respectively. The victory at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif., bumped the Rebels' overall record to 3-7, while Texas dropped to 6-7 on the year.
UNLV's offense scattered a season-high 14 hits in the contest, as Stefany Valentino tallied a team-best three hits. Four other Rebels - Emilie Valadez, Garie Blando, Alyssa Cordova and Juarez - amassed two hits apiece.
UT opened up the scoring in the first when they got help from a fielding miscue, but the Rebels countered with a run of their own an inning later. Garie Blando led off UNLV's half of the second with a single before taking second on a sac bunt. Blando then came around from second when Haslinger drilled a double to left for the equalizer.
The Longhorns took the lead back when they got a sacrifice fly from Lindsey Stephens that plated Brejae Washinton for her second run of the game.
After both teams went scoreless in two straight at-bats, the Rebels mounted a two-run assault in the fifth to turn the tide. With two outs on the scoreboard UNLV two on when Lauren Slatten went a bit wild and walked Tayler Van Acker and Pauline Monreal. Blando and Cordova then teamed up to hit two straight RBI singles to bring in both runners and give their team a one-run lead at 3-2.
Following a scoreless sixth, Texas fought back with two runs of its own in the seventh before UNLV answered back for the win.
Amanda Oliveto (2-4) earned the win for UNLV in complete-game fashion. She gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits.
Holly Kern, who began the game at first base, was tagged with the loss in the circle in two frames of relief for the Longhorns. Kern was touched for two runs off of five hits.
The Rebels return to action on Saturday with a pair of contests. They open up with UC Davis at 10:00 am before facing #14/14 Arizona immediately afterwards at 12:30 pm.
