University of Nevada Las Vegas
New Mexico
4/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Albuquerque, N.M. (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV softball defeated New Mexico 7-3 on Sunday afternoon at Lobo Softball Field to sweep the three-game weekend series. The Rebels improve to 23-24, 7-11 while the Lobos drop to 20-20, 5-9.
New Mexico had taken the first lead of the game in the first inning. Three singles off UNLV starting pitcher Morgan Ettinger produced a run for the Lobos.
The Rebels took the lead in the second inning and never gave it up. Emily Haslinger singled to right field with one out, and Brooke Stover then singled through the left side. After both Haslinger and Stover advanced a base off a grounder by Myranda Bueno, Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez knocked in Haslinger with a single up the middle. With Yadao-Valdez stealing second base, a fielding error by the second baseman on a ground ball by Garie Blando allowed both Bueno and Yadao-Valdez to score and gave UNLV a 3-1 lead.
The Lobos cut their deficit to one run in the fourth inning with a solo home run to center field to begin the bottom of the inning.
The Rebels pushed the game out of the Lobos' reach in the sixth inning with four runs scored. Alyssa Cordova led off with a single through the left side. With Courtney Beavers pinch-running for Cordova, she stole second and third base. Brooke Stover hit a RBI-single up the middle to bring home Beavers for what proved to be the game-winning run. Bueno singled to right center, and a throwing error by the third baseman on Yadao-Valdez's bunt loaded the bases up. Blando knocked in a pinch-running Jamie Hatch and Bueno with a single to center field. The final UNLV run came on a RBI-single by Jamie DePippo that scored Yadao-Valdez.
New Mexico added one run in the seventh off a fielder's choice. Ettinger ended the game with her third strikeout.
DePippo and Stover both went 3-4 at the plate with a RBI. Blando led the Rebels with two RBI off her single in the sixth inning. The Rebels were 5-5 on stolen base attempts with DePippo and Beavers swiping two bases, and Yadao-Valdez had the other steal.
Ettinger (7-2) threw her fourth complete game of the season and surrendered 10 hits, three runs and three walks with three strikeouts.
UNLV will host Oklahoma State next weekend for a non-conference weekend series. The Rebels and Cowgirls will kick off the series with a doubleheader next Saturday starting at 3:00 p.m.
