Box Score

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team (4-3) scored seven runs between the first and second innings, but had to hang on for a dramatic 8-7 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats (2-6) Saturday at Eller Media Stadium in the Wilson/DeMarini Desert Classic. The visitors from the Windy City, who trailed by three runs entering the seventh and final frame, scored twice before they left the would-be tying run at third when the final out was recorded.

With the win, the Scarlet & Gray evened its record in the tournament at 1-1 and moved one game over .500 for the year.

The Rebels used a six-run, five-hit barrage in the opening inning to put some distance between themselves and the Wildcats. Garie Blando got things started with a double to center before Fahren Glackin joined her on the base paths with a walk. Merina Ili then pushed each runner into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Emily Haslinger was credited with the game's first RBI when she knocked in Blando with a single up the middle. Francesca Foti then helped load the bases when she too was walked in a nine-pitch at-bat. With the bags juiced, Halle Rosario delivered a two-run double to the gap in right center to push the lead to three scores. Foti, who made her way to third on Rosario's hit, scored moments later on a sacrifice fly by Alyssa Cordova. Samantha Juarez dealt the final blow to NU's Amy Letourneau's inning with a two-run home run to left.

The Wildcats answered back with two runs of their own in the second. Letourneau got things started with a single before Morgan Ettinger (1-1) was able to record two consecutive outs. Julia Kuhn stepped up and smacked a double to center to plate Letourneau. Following a walk to Olivia Duehr, Kuhn made her way home with the assistance of a wild pitch and a throwing error by Rebel catcher Emily Haslinger.

UNLV pushed its lead back to five with an RBI single by Foti in the bottom half of the second. Glackin scored on the hit after initially reaching off a hit-by-pitch. The Rebel offense managed to load the bases with only one out, but was unsuccessful in plating any more runs after NU went to the bullpen and relieved Letourneau with Kristen Wood.

After a scoreless third inning, NU outscored UNLV 5-1 between the fourth and seventh and Andrea Filler was the key instigator. Filler was responsible for the first three scores with a solo home run in the fourth and a two-run double in the fifth.

A single run by UNLV in the bottom of the fifth proved to be the decisive score, ultimately, in the one-run affair. Emilie Valadez found herself in scoring position after she had reached via a one-out single and then advanced to second base on a groundout. With two out, Glackin blooped a ball towards the NU second baseman, Brianna LeBeau, which was ruled as a trap by the infielder. Valadez was able to score from second on the play when LeBeau was unable to right herself fast enough after going to the dirt.

In the seventh, the Wildcats were able to get runners in scoring position with one out against Foti. Andrea DiPrima stepped up and hit a two-run single up the middle before a fielding error allowed her to move up to second base. She advanced to third on one groundout to shortstop, but wasn't able to move any further when Blando and Halle Rosario connected on their second straight 6-3 putout.

Ettinger notched her first win of the year with 4.2 innings of work. She was touched for five runs (four earned) on nine hits. She gave way to Foti, who picked up a save in 2.1 frames of relief, for a save. Foti allowed two runs off of two hits in her stint in the circle.

Letourneau (1-4) was saddled with the loss in only 1.1 innings of action. She surrendered seven runs and seven hits to go along with three walks. Wood was much more effective in her 4.2 frames, which resulted in one run and three hits.

UNLV returns to action Sunday at 9:00 am against the UTEP Miners at EMS.