LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team couldn't have asked for a better start to the 2019 campaign as the Rebels went a perfect 5-0 on opening weekend at the Marucci Desert Classic, marking their best record through the first five game since 2007.
The Scarlet and Gray will be back at home for a second straight weekend, hosting the Boyd Gaming Rebel Classic, February 14-17. The four-day tournament will feature 11 teams total and take place at both Eller Media Stadium and Stephanie Lynn Park. All six of UNLV's games will be held at Eller Media Stadium, beginning Thursday, February 14 against Fordham at 3 p.m. Friday's doubleheader kicks off at 11:30 a.m. with a rematch against Utah Valley, who the Rebels beat handily 9-0 in six innings last Friday, then concludes against Miami-Ohio at 2 p.m. Saturday's doubleheader will pit the Rebels against the Hoyas of Georgetown at 1 p.m. followed by a 3 p.m. contest against Weber State. The weekend concludes Sunday at 10:30 against UTEP.
UNLV was firing on all cylinders on opening weekend as the offense hit .370 with 12 different players registering hits, while the defense picked up where it left off last year when it recorded the best fielding percentage in program history, recording just two errors all weekend. The pitching staff was solid, with returners
Charlie Masterson and
Breana Burke turning in productive innings and standout freshman
Jenny Bressler going 3-0 in an impressive debut.
The Rebels will have a chance to make history Thursday against Fordham as UNLV has never had a team start the season 6-0. The Boyd Gaming Classic will mark the final home tournament of 2019, with the Rebels heading out on the road for the next three consecutive weekends, except for a lone midweek game on Thursday, March 7 at 1 p.m. against San Diego.
QUICK HITTERS
• The 5-0 start is the best since 2007 and marks only the third time in program history a team has began the season 5-0
• UNLV has never started a season 6-0 and will have a chance to do so Thursday vs. Fordham
• The offense was explosive, hitting .370 with 43 runs in five games, both marks lead the MW
• UNLV was also patient at the plate, drawing 22 walks in five games, and were especially successful with runner in scoring position as they hit .373 in those situations compared to .250 for their opponents
• The defense was outstanding, committing just two errors all weekend
• The Rebels were the only team in the conference and one
of 31 teams to go unbeaten on opening weekend
• The Rebels success came in part to their ability to strike early, with 19 of their 43 runs this weekend coming in the first three innings, including scoring in the first inning in all five games
• UNLV only trailed once all weekend, 1-0 in the first inning to North Dakota
• Juniors
Reina Bondi and
Lauren Tycksen were a lethal 1-2 punch at the top of lineup, combining to go 17-for-31 (.548) with 20 runs scored and seven RBI through five games
• The core returners (
Mia Trejo,
Myranda Bueno,
Samantha Diaz and
Justine Federe, not including Bondi) were also productive at the plate, going 17-for-54 (.314 with 14 runs scored, two doubles, two home runs and 14 RBI
• The freshmen were impressive in their Rebel debuts this weekend with all six seeing game action, and four -
Jenny Bressler,
Paxton Scheurer,
Julia Vollmer and
Lauryn Barker - making two or more starts. At the plate, the freshman combined to go 9-for-31 (.290) with seven runs scored, eight RBI and two home runs
• Bressler, the 2018 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year, was stellar going 3-0 with a 3.13 ERA, giving up 11 hits in 15.2 innings pitched with two complete-game performances
• Barker had big shoes to fill at third base after the graduation of Jade Yadao-Valdez, but proved she's up to the task as she was solid on the hot corner all weekend and did not commit an error
• UNLV did not get picked off in 17 stolen bases attempts, led by Bondi, who is a perfect 7-for-7, and Tycksen, who went 5-for-5. The 17 stolen bases is nine more than any other team in the conference
• The 17 stolen bases through five games is impressive considering the Rebels stole 31 all of last season
• UNLV hit four home runs through the first five games - two coming from freshmen
Julia Vollmer and
Denise Armendariz, one from
Mia Trejo and one from senior
Myranda Bueno, just the second of her career
• Junior transfer
Lauren Tycksen, who was an NFCA Junior College All-American at Salt Lake City Community College last spring, earned her first Mountain West Player of the Week award on Feb. 12 after hitting .625 with 10 runs scored, two triples, five RBI and five stolen bases. She was also named College Sports Madness' Mountain West Player of the Week and was recognized as a Top Performer by the NFCA.
RANKING THE REBELS
•
NCAA: The Rebels rank 22nd in the country in batting average (.370); tied for 20th in runs per game (8.60); tied for ninth in stolen bases per game (3.40); 23rd in on-base percentage (.461) and 22nd in fielding percentage (.985). Junior
Lauren Tycksen is tied for 25th in batting average (.625) and is tied with fellow junior
Reina Bondi for fourth in runs per game (2.00). Freshman
Jenny Bressler is tied for fifth in the country in win percentage (1.000).
•
Mountain West: UNLV ranks first or second in all the major offensive statistical categories as a team: 2nd in batting average (.370), second in slugging percentage (.520), second in on-base percentage (.461), first in runs scored (43), first in hits (47) and first in RBI (37). Pitching-wise, UNLV ranks in the top four in earned run average (3rd, 3.16), opposing batting average (4th, .250), innings pitched (3rd, 31.0), batters struck out (3rd, 24) and wins (1st, 5). Individually, junior OF
Lauren Tycksen is tied for second in batting average (.625) and on-base percentage (.667), is first in hits (10) and triples (2) and is tied for fifth in runs batted in (5). Tycksen and junior
Reina Bondi lead the league with 10 runs scored apiece, while Bondi and Tycksen are 1-2 in stolen bases with seven and five, respectively. On the pitching side, freshman
Jenny Bressler leads the MW with 15.2 innings pitched and three wins, and ranks second with 13 batters struck out.
LIVE STATS/UPDATES
Live stats and links to video for all six games are available at
www.UNLVRebels.com. Live updates can also be found by following @UNLVSoftball on twitter. Please visit the Boyd Gaming Tournament page for the full weekend schedule and tournament info:
https://unlvrebels.com/feature/2019BoydGamingRebelClassic.
