Softball 3/26/2017 12:00:00 AM

Rubber Match Goes to the Lobos

March 26, 2017

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV Softball came up a couple runs short from its first conference series victory, dropping Sunday's rubber match to New Mexico 5-4 at Eller Media Stadium. The defeat moves the Rebels to 18-13 on the year and 2-4 in the Mountain West while the Lobos improved to 16-12 and 2-1 in conference play.

The Scarlet & Gray found itself in an early hole for the second-straight day after the Lobos took the lead with a three-run homer off of Rebel starter Morgan Ettinger in the top of first, but unlike Saturday, the Rebels couldn't fully dig out from the deficit. They got very close, however, as they were able to rally late to get within one, but that was as close as they would get.

The Rebels were able to get one run back immediately in the bottom half of the first after leadoff hitter Reina Bondi doubled and Brianna Gatlin walked to put two on with no outs. Janine Petmecky attempted to bunt and was tagged out by the New Mexico catcher, but the Rebel runners were able to advance to second and third. Alyssa Navarro then delivered the RBI with a hard groundout to first base to score Bondi and cut the Lobo lead to 3-1.

New Mexico extended its lead to 5-1 in the top of the fourth after a single and an error allowed two runners on with no outs. A groundout moved the runners over to second and third, then a sacrifice fly to left field and a two-out double scored brought both of them across the plate.

UNLV kept chipping away at the lead, getting one run in the bottom of the fourth after Charlie Masterson and Myranda Bueno knocked back-to-back singles to put two on with one out. A sacrifice bunt by Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez advanced Masterson and Bueno to third and second, respectively, bringing up shortstop Karly Bunderson to the plate. Bunderson sent a two-out single through the hole between third and the shortstop to pick up her second RBI of the season as Masterson came home to score.

Trailing 5-2 with in the bottom of the sixth, head coach Lisa Dodd sent freshman Mara Kemmer to the plate to pinch hit for Yadao-Valdez and it proved to be a good move as Kemmer connected on a leadoff single. Yadao-Valdez came back in to run for Kemmer and reached second on a groundout. With two outs and one on, Gatlin sent a double to the gap in right center to score Yadao-Valdez and Petmecky brought Gatlin home with another double over the centerfielder's head to make it 5-4. That's all the Rebels would get, though, as they stranded runners when a line out by Kiley Harrison ended the inning.

With one more chance to rally, Bueno recorded a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but two-straight strikeouts ended the comeback bid.

With all five Lobo runs credited to Ettinger, the senior right hander was tagged with her fifth-straight loss to move to 12-8 on the year.

Some positives to come out of the weekend was the play of Bueno and the pitching of freshman Breana Burke. Bueno was stellar at the plate and in the field this weekend, going 5-of-9 (.556) with three runs scored, one triple and one RBI, while Burke pitched eight scoreless innings in two relief appearances, giving up just five hits, a week after she gave up six runs in one inning at Utah State.

The Scarlet & Gray will play one more at home, a mid-week contest on Wed., March 29 against Dixie State at 6 p.m., before heading to Corvallis for a two-game series at Oregon State on its conference bye weekend.

-UNLV-

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Players Mentioned

#25 Reina Bondi: OF; 5' 2"; Freshman; HS

#6 Karly Bunderson: IN; 5' 7"; Junior; TR

#0 Breana Burke: P/OF; 5' 4"; Freshman; HS

#4 Brianna Gatlin: SS; 5' 9"; Senior; TR

#11 Kiley Harrison: C/IN; 5' 8"; Sophomore; TR

#32 Mara Kemmer: P; 5' 7"; Freshman; HS

#12 Charlie Masterson: P/IN; 5' 8"; Freshman; HS

#5 Alyssa Navarro: IN; 5' 5"; Junior; TR

#55 Myranda Bueno: OF; 5' 6"; Freshman; HS

#45 Janine Petmecky: P/OF; 5' 5"; Freshman; HS

#10 Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez: UTL; 4' 9"; Freshman; HS

#19 Morgan Ettinger: P; 5' 6"; Freshman; HS

Players Mentioned

#25 Reina Bondi
: 5' 2"; Freshman; HS
: OF

#6 Karly Bunderson
: 5' 7"; Junior; TR
: IN

#0 Breana Burke
: 5' 4"; Freshman; HS
: P/OF

#4 Brianna Gatlin
: 5' 9"; Senior; TR
: SS

#11 Kiley Harrison
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; TR
: C/IN

#32 Mara Kemmer
: 5' 7"; Freshman; HS
: P

#12 Charlie Masterson
: 5' 8"; Freshman; HS
: P/IN

#5 Alyssa Navarro
: 5' 5"; Junior; TR
: IN

#55 Myranda Bueno
: 5' 6"; Freshman; HS
: OF

#45 Janine Petmecky
: 5' 5"; Freshman; HS
: P/OF

#10 Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez
: 4' 9"; Freshman; HS
: UTL

#19 Morgan Ettinger
: 5' 6"; Freshman; HS
: P