April 29, 2014

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball program had one of its own earn Mountain West Player of the Week honors for the second straight week, as Garie Blando was recognized for her efforts last week in six games against MW foes. It's the first weekly recognition for the Rebel sophomore.

Blando, a native of Chino Hills, Calif., helped the Scarlet & Gray to a split of its conference games against San Diego State and Fresno State. Hitting in the lead-off spot, she led the Rebels in batting average (.571/12-for-21), runs (six), hits (12), total bases (16), slugging percentage (.762) and on-base percentage (.609).

In the SDSU series, she hit .727 with eight hits in 11 at-bats with five runs and four RBI. In game 1 of a doubleheader with the Aztecs she went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. She followed that outing trying a Rebel single-game record with five hits that in turn led to a score in each of her at-bats with three runs and two RBI. In game three, she led off the affair with a solo home run in a 1-for-2 day.

Against Fresno State, she hit .400 with four hits in 10 at-bats. In Saturday's twin bill, she went 1-for-4 in game one and followed that up with a 3-for-4 showing and one run in the nightcap. Prior to Sunday's 0-for-2 outing, she had successfully hit safely in 17 straight games.

Defensively, she owned a fielding percentage of .973 with only one error in 36 chances (nine putouts and 27 assists) for the week.

Blando is the third Rebel to garner weekly conference honors after Emily Haslinger was tabbed player of the week on April 22 and Morgan Ettinger was the pitcher of the week on Feb. 25.