Box Score: UNLV 9, Iowa State 0 (5 innings)

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball (11-10) shut out the Iowa State Cyclones (11-6) by a final score of 9-0 in five innings Friday during the first day of the Rebel Classic. UNLV, who has won four of its last six, never looked back after it scored seven runs in the first of the shortened, run-rule affair at Eller Media Stadium.

The Rebels notched four hits on the day and all of them came in that offensive first frame. Garie Blando led off with a single to left before taking second after a sac bunt by Samantha Juarez. After Merina Ili was issued a base on balls, Alyssa Cordova took an offering from Katie Johnson (6-3) deep to left that brought home Blando. Consecutive walks to Halle Rosario and Brooke Stover brought one more in with the latter getting credited with an RBI. Chrissi Omalza made it a 3-0 contest when she laced a single back up the middle, and ultimately, ended Johnson's day in the circle.

ISU's Stacy Roggentien didn't fare so well in the circle either. Jade Yadao-Valdez greeted her rudely with a two-run single to left to knock in Stover and Rosario. Yadao-Valdez and Omalza came around one batter later when a fly to right by Blando was misplayed by Amy Cappaert.

After a pair of scoreless stanzas, UNLV capitalized on two more Cyclone miscues for a pair of runs to up its lead to nine. Cordova was responsible for one run with a sacrifice fly, while the second was off a fielding error on a ball put in play by Rosario.

A pair of Rebel hurlers, who combined on a three-hit shutout, stymied the Cyclone offense. Morgan Ettinger (5-5) tossed the first four innings and was touched for two hits. Janine Petmecky surrendered the third hit to ISU in the fifth and final frame.

Johnson was the unfortunate recipient of the loss in only 0.2 innings of work. She allowed six runs (one earned) off of three hits and three walks. Roggentien and Paris Imholz threw the remaining 3.1 stanzas for three runs (one earned) off one hit. They walked three and struck out one.

UNLV returns to EMS Saturday for two games beginning with an 11:15 am affair with Eastern Kentucky, which will be followed by a 3:45 pm tilt with Houston.

NOTES: UNLV pitching has amassed five shutouts this season with Ettinger involved in three of those - all in combined roles ... UNLV improved to 7-1 when it holds its opponents between zero and two runs.