Box Score

RENO, Nev. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team (22-24 overall, 8-7 Mountain West) jumped back into the win column with help from its 7-3 victory over the Nevada, Reno Wolf Pack (14-30, 4-11) at Hixson Softball Park. By virtue of Sunday's victory, the Rebels claimed the three points allotted for the sport for UNLV Athletics towards the Governor's Series presented by NV Energy and sponsored by Barrick Gold's standings - for the third straight year, which is now deadlocked at 15-all.

UNLV improved its head-to-head record against UNR to 19-7 after it's won six of the past seven meetings.

The Rebels struck for the game's first run in the third after they stranded two in both the first and second innings. With Samantha Juarez in scoring position after she had reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second, Emily Haslinger laced a double to left-center field for an RBI.

The contest stayed 1-0 in favor of UNLV until the home half of the fourth when UNR strung together four hits that produced three runs against Janine Petmecky (2-7). The Rebel hurler had held the Wolf Pack hitless through 3.2 stanzas until Amanda Weis' solo home run that ended the no-hit and shutout bid. Unfortunately, the home team's bats stayed hot after Weis' game-tying shot as three singles and a walk resulted in two more scores.

UNLV quickly turned things around in the fifth with three runs off of three hits. Garie Blando pulled the Rebels within one at 3-2 with a solo home run to lead off the frame and extend her season-best hitting streak to 16 games. After Fahren Glackin and Jaurez were hit by a pitch and walked, respectively, Petmecky helped herself with the would-be game-winning hit - a two-run double to right-center.

The Rebels tacked on three more runs between the sixth and seventh to distance themselves from the Wolf Pack. Jade Yadao-Valdez led off the sixth with a single and worked her way around the bases with help from a stolen base and a wild pitch before Juarez laced an RBI single up the middle. In the final inning, Merina Ili stepped into the batter's box in a pinch-hitting capacity and hit a two-run homer over the fence in left field. Lexie McKinnon scored on the dinger after entering as a pinch-runner following an infield single by Petmecky.

Petmecky picked up the win for UNLV in four innings of work. She allowed three runs off of four hits with two walks against two strikeouts. She gave way to Morgan Ettinger in the fifth, and she earned her fourth save of the season behind three scoreless stanzas of relief work. Ettinger was touched for three hits, but struck out two.

UNR's Megan Dortch (5-10) was on the hook for her second loss of the weekend after she was roughed up for five runs. Dortch struck out four, but allowed six hits and walked four.

After playing only three home contests in the past three weeks at home, the Rebels return to the friendly confines of Eller Media Stadium for a three-game conference series against the San Jose State Spartans next weekend. Game one of the set is scheduled for a 6:00 pm first pitch Friday, April 24. Saturday's affair is at 1:00 pm, while Sunday's finale is set for 12:00 pm.