LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team turned in another strong performance on the road last weekend, going 3-1 at Coastal Carolina's Chanticleer Showdown to move to 14-4 on the season for just the second time in program history. That mark is tied for the second-best start through 18 games and is the best since the 1995 squad went 15-3 to open the year. In the three victories, the Rebels outscored their opponents 21-5, while their pitching staff limited all four opponents to three runs or fewer.

The Rebels will look to keep the early season momentum going this weekend, beginning Thursday at home against San Diego at 1 p.m. at Eller Media Stadium. Following the game, UNLV will head to Northern California for its final non-conference tournament, playing five games at the Stanford Invitational, March 8-10. The Scarlet and Gray open the slate Friday against Bucknell at 12:15 p.m. and then take on University of Massachusetts-Lowell immediately following that contest at 2:30 p.m. The next morning, the Rebels will have a second matchup against Bucknell, which is set for 10 a.m. UNLV will then take on tournament-host Stanford Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. and finish out the weekend Sunday with a second game against the Cardinal at 11:15 a.m. The Rebels will be looking for their first ever win over Stanford as they are 0-6 against the Cardinal all time.

The Stanford Invitational marks the end of the pre-conference tournament slate. UNLV will return home next weekend to open up Mountain West play and it will be a big series as they host defending champion Boise State, March 15-17, at Eller Media Stadium. Boise State is off to another strong start and while it's just the first conference series of 2019, the games could prove pivotal in the overall league race.

QUICK HITTERS
• The 14-4 matches the second-best start through 18 games in program history, tying the 14-4 mark by the 1991 team. The 1995 squad owns the best mark at 15-3
• UNLV has winning streaks of six games and two different four-game win streak this season, while its longest losing streak is only two
• The offense has been explosive over the first month, hitting a MW-best .336 with 108 runs in 18 games, while UNLV has outscored its opponent 108-42 this season and have only been shut out twice
• UNLV has also been patient at the plate, drawing 59 walks in 18 games, and have been lights out with runners in scoring position as they hit .349 in those situations compared to .242 for their opponents
• The defense has also been outstanding, committing just six errors in 18 games with a .988 fielding percentage, which currently ranks fourth in the country. For the season, the Rebels have yet to commit more than one in a game
• The pitching has been a consistent force as the trio of Charlie Masterson, Breana Burke and Jenny Bressler have combined for a 2.37 ERA, which ranks second in the MW. Bressler, the 2018 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year, has had a stellar start to her career going 8-2 with a 2.33 ERA and a team-high 50 strikeouts. Both Masterson and Burke have ERAs under three at 2.43 and 2.39, respectively
• The Rebels success has come in part to their ability to strike early, with 69 of their 108 runs coming in the first four innings. Scoring first and leading early has also been key as they are 10-0 when they score first and  12-0 when leading after four innings
• Sunday's 2-1 loss to Coastal Carolina marked just the second time the Rebels lost when out-hitting their opponents.
• Saturday's 10-1 five-inning win over Coastal Carolina was UNLV's fourth run-rule victory of the year
• UNLV went 20-for-20 on stolen base attempts to start the season. After going 5-for-6 on stolen bases this past weekend in South Carolina, UNLV is now 35-for-39 in 18 games after swiping just 31 bases all of last season. 
• UNLV hit four home runs last weekend in SC alone after hitting eight through the first three weekend. They now have 12 through 18 games after hitting just 20 in 53 games last season
• In SC, Shortstop Samantha Diaz had her best weekend at the plate of the season, going 9-for-13 (.692) with two doubles, three runs, four RBI and one home run
• Second baseman Justine Federe, who leads the team with 19 RBI this year, also had herself a weekend as she went 6-for-12 (.500) with five runs scored, seven RBI, one double and two home runs (a two-run HR & a three-run HR). The junior will enter the upcoming weekend on an 11-game hitting streak
• Junior Lauren Tycksen, who has the most consistent hitter at the plate, went 8-for-15 (.533) in South Carolina. Her .492 average leads the team (min. 25 at-bats), while she will also enter the weekend with a hitting streak, hers standing at eight games
• The Rebels have five players hitting over .300, including two over .400 (minimum 25 at-bats), led by junior Lauren Tycksen, who is hitting .492 with 30 hits, 22 runs scored, 11 RBI, four doubles and two triples. Federe is hitting .404 with 21 hits, 11 runs scored, 19 RBI and two home runs
• Tycksen and fellow junior Reina Bondi have been a lethal 1-2 punch at the top of lineup, combining to go 49-for-125 (.392) with 41 runs scored and 15 RBI. The two have also combined to go 24-for-26 on stolen bases, with Bondi's 12-for-12 a new career high
• Returners Mia Trejo, Myranda Bueno & Diaz have also been productive at the plate, going 50-for-143 (.350) with 26 runs scored, six home runs and 33 RBI
• Tycksen leads the way with 10 multi-hit games this season, while Bondi is second with six.Tycksen, Federe and Diaz are tied with the lead with four multi-RBI games a piece  
• Freshman Statia Cermak has made the most of her opportunities at the plate this season as she is 11-for-22 (.500), which includes 5-for-5 with four RBI in pinch-hit situations. She also holds the longest on-base streak this year at 13
• Junior transfer 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 17th in the country in batting average (.336); 38th in runs per game (6.00); 25th in stolen bases per game (1.94) and fourth in fielding percentage (.988). Junior Lauren Tycksen is 27th in batting average (.492), fifth in hits (30) and 18th in runs per game (1.22). Junior Justine Federe is tied for fifth nationally in sacrifice flies (3) In stolen bases per game, Tycksen and Bondi rank tied for 27th (0.67). Freshman Jenny Bressler ranks tied for 20th with eight wins.
• Mountain West: Rebels rank at the top or near the top in most major offensive, pitching and defensive statistical categories. They rank first in batting average (.336), on-base percentage (.410), runs (108), hits (157) and RBI (97) and second in slugging percentage (.467). UNLV's ERA of 2.37 rank second, its 118.0 innings pitched ranks first and its 42 runs allowed ranks third. Defensively, UNLV's .988 fielding percentage ranks first in the conference. Tycksen ranks first in runs scored (22) and hits (30) and ranks third in batting average (.492), while Reina Bondi ranks second in run scored (19) and first in at-bats (64). Tycksen and Bondi are tied for first with 12 stolen bases each, while Justine Federe leads the conference with 19 RBI. Freshman Jenny Bressler leads in innings pitched (60.0), batters struck out looking (17) and wins (8).

LIVE STATS/UPDATES
Live stats links and video links (for applicable games) are available at www.UNLVRebels.com. Live updates can also be found by following @UNLVSoftball on twitter.