LOGAN, UTAH (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team came up just short of a doubleheader sweep Saturday at Utah State (11-15, 2-3), blasting the Aggies 12-0 in five innings in game one before dropping a close 4-3 contest in game two to split the day. The Rebels ran away with the first game behind a 13-hit performance, but gave up a late lead in game two to end a three-game winning streak.
UNLV moves to 22-7 on the year and 3-2 in Mountain West play, marking the third-best start through 29 games in program history. On Sunday, the Rebels will be looking for their first series win over Utah State since 2015.
The Rebels' offense couldn't be stopped in the victory as they went 13-for-27 (.481) with 12 runs in the blowout, which included a solo shot from
Justine Federe and a two-run homer from
Mia Trejo, but went 6-for-25 (.240) in the loss, including 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Trejo was the top performer at the plate on the day, going 5-for-7 (.714) with six RBI and two runs scored over the two games.
Freshman
Jenny Bressler got both starts and pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in game one to pick up her 14th victory of the year, but was tagged with just her third loss in game two after allowing four runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings pitched.
GAME 1: UNLV 12 Utah State 0 (5)
THE TURNING POINT: The Rebels took control from the beginning, scoring three runs on four singles to take the early 3-0 lead.
Reina Bondi led off with a single and reached second on Tycksen groundout. That was followed by back-to-back RBI singles from Federe and Trejo. With two outs and runners on second and third,
Myranda Bueno singled to left center to bring home the third run of the inning. UNLV added four runs in the second and three more in the third to put the game away.
STAT OF THE GAME: Four Rebels recorded multi-hit games -
Lauren Tycksen,
Justine Federe,
Mia Trejo and
Samantha Diaz - with Federe and Trejo each registering three.
REBEL OF THE GAME: Trejo went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs, which included the two-run home run in the fifth to put an exclamation point on the victory.
GAME 2: Utah State 4 UNLV 3
THE TURNING POINT: Bressler cruised through the first three innings to extend a stretch of 14.0 innings without allowing a run, but that streak came to an end in the fourth when Utah State hit back-to-back doubles to tie the score up at one. The next inning, pinch hitter
Denise Armendariz led off the inning with a single and
Reina Bondi walked to put two on. With one out, the two advanced to second and third with a wild pitch and Federe walked to load the bases. That brought up Trejo, who came through again with a two-run single to left field to put the Rebels back in front at 3-1. The lead was short-lived unfortunately as the Aggies drew the walk and then hit two singles to load the bases with no outs. The next Aggie batter hit a bases-clearing double to score three runs for the 4-3 lead. In the top half of the sixth, UNLV put runners on second and third with two outs, but a groundout ended its best chance of a comeback.
STAT OF THE GAME: The four runs allowed by Bressler were the second-most allowed by the freshman this season and the most allowed in an appearance since she allowed two runs in a loss to Portland State on Feb. 23.
UP NEXT: The series will be up for grabs Sunday morning with first pitch set for 11 a.m. PT
REBEL NOTES:
* The 22-7 record is the best start since the 1995 squad went 24-5
* Rebels have lost three straight series to Utah State, with 2015 the last time they took two of three from the Aggies
* UNLV needs 11 wins to match last year's total of 33 with 22 games still left to play
* The 12-0 win was the ninth shutout for the Rebels and the seventh run-rule victory of the year
* Bueno has been hot at the plate the last four games, going 6-for-9 (.333) during the four-game hitting streak
* UNLV has allowed three runs or fewer in 14 of its last 16 games and one run or fewer in nine of its last 11 games
* Bressler had entered the weekend allowing just one run in her last 30.2 innings pitched and that streak continued until the fourth inning in game two when she gave up the game-tying run
* Despite the loss, Bressler is 14-3 on the year with a 1.70 ERA with 79 strikeouts
* As a staff, the Rebel pitchers have a 2.15 ERA
* Rebels continue to outscore its opponents 164-60
* Rebels committed one error over the two games and have just 12 in 29 games this year
