LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team stayed hot on day two of the Marucci Desert Classic at Eller Media Stadium, picking up two more wins to stay unbeaten in 2019 at 4-0. Saturday's script read much like Friday as the Rebels held off a comeback attempt in game one to beat No. 25 Long Beach State 6-5, then ran away from North Dakota in game two for a 10-1 five-inning victory.
The Rebels' 4-0 start is their best since 2007.
The Scarlet and Gray offense showed its explosiveness combining for 16 runs in two games for a second straight day and has yet to score fewer than six runs in a game this year. It has been a team effort so far with 10 different players registering hits Saturday, while the Rebels are hitting .366 as a whole through the first four contests. They are also been a patient group at the plate, drawing nine walks Saturday and 14 overall.
The defense was again impressive with just one error on the day and the pitching staff got outs in key moments to help secure the victories. Freshman
Jenny Bressler notched her third win after a complete-game five-strikeout performance against LBSU, while
Charlie Masterson gave up just one run on seven hits in five innings against North Dakota.
GAME 1: UNLV 6 #25 LONG BEACH STATE 5
THE TURNING POINT: UNLV's patience at the plate paid off early against LBSU as two runs crossed the plate on bases-loaded walks to give the Rebels the first-inning lead. The next frame, sophomore Mia Trejo showed why she was an all-conference performer as a freshman a year ago as she blasted a three-run shot to extend the lead to 5-0. Long Beach State wasn't going away quietly though, cutting the lead to 5-3 with a three-run homer of its own in the top half of the third. When LBSU tied it in the top of the sixth at five, UNLV stayed calm and went back to work. With one out, the speedy transfer Lauren Tycksen reached first on an infield single, then stole second to get in scoring position. Trejo was up again and her grounder forced an error that allowed Tycksen to cross the plate for the game-winning run.
REBEL OF THE GAME: Tycksen takes the honors not just because of her 2-for-4 day and her three runs scored, but for her defense as well. The junior showed off her range in centerfield, twice catching deep balls on the run that looked like sure-fire extra base hits for Long Beach State.
GAME 2: UNLV 10 NORTH DAKOTA 1 (5)
THE TURNING POINT: The Rebels found themselves in a 1-0 whole heading into the bottom of the first, but again didn't panic. After a Trejo RBI single tied the game up at one, freshman designated hitter Denise Armendariz, getting her first collegiate start, sent a towering two-run home run over the centerfield wall to give the Rebels the lead for good and they never looked back.
STAT OF THE GAME: UNLV scored seven runs over the final two innings to capture a second run-rule victory in four games this year.
REBEL OF THE GAME: Masterson bounced back from a bit of a rough start Friday to give up just one run to North Dakota in her first win of the season.
UP NEXT: UNLV will finish out the weekend with a 1 p.m. contest against Southern Utah at Eller Media Stadium.
REBEL NOTES:
* UNLV will be looking for its first 5-0 start since 2007 when they take on Southern Utah Sunday
* Juniors Reina Bondi and Lauren Tycksen have been a lethal 1-2 punch at the top of lineup, combining to go 14-for-24 (.583) with 15 runs scored and five RBI through four games
* Two freshman - Julia Vollmer and Denise Armendariz - didn't waste time notching their first career home runs this weekend
* The Rebels begin their 35th season and are 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
