Box Score

SAN DIEGO (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team (14-15 overall, 0-1 Mountain West) allowed four runs in the late innings of its 5-1 loss to the San Diego State Aztecs (18-12, 1-0) Friday evening at SDSU Softball Stadium. The contest, which signaled the start of the Mountain West campaign for both squads, was the fifth straight for UNLV in the area after its 0-4 stint last weekend at the San Diego Classic II.

The Rebels started the game by getting runners in scoring position after an error followed a fly out and one-out singles by Garie Blando and Emily Haslinger. Unfortunately, SDSU's Erica Romero (16-9) was able to halt the threat by getting a grounder to end the inning.

SDSU was able to capitalize on its scoring opportunity in the home half of the first when Jenavee Peres stepped up with runners on the corners and notched a one-out sacrifice fly. Sydnee Cable scored on the fly ball after initially reaching on a hit-by-pitch thrown by Morgan Ettinger (6-6).

The score remained in the Aztecs' favor until the Scarlet & Gray pulled even in the fourth. Haslinger got the offensive going with her second single of the contest. She then gave way to Lexi McKinnon, who entered as a pinch runner, and made her way to third after a sacrifice bunt and a passed ball occurred. McKinnon managed to score off a grounder put in play by Alyssa Cordova.

The Aztecs pulled the momentum back to their side with a single tally in the fifth and three more scores in the sixth. All four runs were of the unearned variety and a result of two fielding errors. The would-be game-winning run was off one of those errors. After getting two runners on off a base on balls and hit-by-pitch, Kayla Jordan laced a single up the middle that would have resulted in a bases-loaded situation, but Samantha Juarez misplayed the ball. As a result of the miscue, Jacki Campa, who had reached via walk, scored the go-ahead run.

Romero earned the win in complete-game fashion for SDSU. She struck out one and allowed one run (unearned) off of six hits.

Ettinger went 5.2 innings in the circle, but was tagged with the loss. She gave up five runs (one earned) off of four hits. She struck out two against two walks.

Sydney Mundell tossed the final 0.1 innings for UNLV with one hit and one walk against her.

UNLV and SDSU return to the field Saturday for a 6:00 pm affair, which will be streamed live in conjunction with the Mountain West Network. Video and live stats links can be found at UNLVRebels.com.