LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV softball started the new season on a high note, going 2-0 on opening day at the Marucci Desert Classic at Eller Media Stadium Friday. The Rebels held off Seton Hall 7-6 in game one, then dominated Utah Valley 9-0 in six innings to wrap up the doubleheader.

The Rebel offense got off to a strong start, going 19-for-50 (.380) with a pair of home runs en route to 16 runs over the first two games, while the Rebel defense was just as sharp, committing just one error in the wins. 

A pair of newcomers - junior outfielder Lauren Tycksen and freshman pitcher Jenny Bressler - had impressive debuts in their first action as Rebels. 

Tycksen, a junior college NFCA All-American at Salt Lake City Community College in 2018, transferred to UNLV this year and found herself as the starting center fielder on opening day. She wasted no time making her presence felt, especially at the plate, where she went 5-for-6 with two RBI, five runs scored and one walk

Bressler came to UNLV from Canton, Michigan where she was named the state's Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior last spring. She made her first collegiate appearance against the Pirates, entering the game in relief in the 5th inning in a tie game to ultimately earn her first win, then shut out the Wolverines in her first career start to pick up her second win of the day. The freshman also struck out 8 batters in 8.2 innings pitched.

GAME 1: UNLV 7 SETON HALL 6 

THE TURNING POINT: The Rebels took the early 1-0 lead in the first inning, but found themselves trailing 2-1 after the Pirates put a pair of runs on board in the top half of the third. UNLV responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to retake the lead 4-2, but Seton Hall refused to go away, scoring two in the top of the fifth to tie things up four. With one out and runners on first and second, Bressler entered the game and got a fielder's choice and her first career strikeout to keep the game tied up. The Rebels again responded in the bottom half of the inning as senior Myranda Bueno led off the inning with a solo home run to give UNLV the lead for good. The Scarlet and Gray added two more much needed runs in the inning to take a three-run lead to the sixth and Bressler ultimately held off one last Seton Hall rally attempt for the win.

STAT OF THE GAME: The offense was efficient against the Pirates, scoring seven runs on seven hits.

REBEL OF THE GAME: While Bueno had the go-ahead homer, Tycksen takes the honors after accounting for three of the Rebels' seven hits and four of seven runs scored in the game. The junior transfer went 3-for-3 with a pair of triples, two RBI and two runs scored in an outstanding performance.

GAME 2: UNLV 9 UTAH VALLEY 0 (6)

THE TURNING POINT: The Rebels only led 1-0 through three and half innings, then scored two, one and five runs over the final three frames to force the run-rule ending in the bottom of the sixth. The fourth-inning started with a leadoff single by Mia Trejo and was capped by a RBI single from Kiley Harrison to plate the second run of the inning for a 3-0 UNLV lead. With the way Bressler was pitching, those insurance runs sealed the win.

STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV's offense exploded for 9 runs on 12 hits against the Wolverines as nine different players registered hits.

REBEL OF THE GAME: After giving up a pair of runs in the sixth inning of her relief appearance, Bressler settled in for her first career start, pitching six scoreless innings against the Wolverines to go along with five strikeouts. Three of the five strikeouts were inning-enders.

UP NEXT: UNLV will have another double header on day two of the Marucci Desert Classic, facing No. 25 Long Beach State at 3:30 p.m. before wrapping up the evening with a 6 p.m. matchup against North Dakota.

REBEL NOTES: 
* The Rebels opened their 35th season hosting a home tournament for the 15th straight year
* Kristie Fox enters her second season after going 33-20 in year one, the program's most wins in a season since 2011
* For the second straight season, the Rebels won both games on opening day
* Five freshman [Jenny Bressler, Paxon Scheurer, Lauryn Barker, Julia Vollmer and Denise Armendariz) saw action in their collegiate debuts with Barker starting both games at third base, Scheurer starting as the designated hitter in both games and Bressler and Vollmer starting against Utah Valley
* Rebels move to 23-12 all-time in season openers
* Senior outfielder Myranda Bueno's solo shot against Seton Hall in the fifth inning was just her second career home run. She went 3-for-5 with the homer and two runs scored on the day
* Freshman catcher Julia Vollmer made her first career start against UVU and blasted her first career home run