LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team started the last weekend before conference play on a high note by blasting San Diego 11-0 in five innings Thursday afternoon at Eller Media Stadium. The 11 runs tied a season-high while it was the Rebels' fourth shutout and fifth run-rule victory of the year.
The Rebels improved to 15-4 on the year, which matches the second-best start through 19 games in program history. The 1995 squad owns the best mark at 16-3.
After being limited to just one run in a 2-1 loss to Coastal Carolina Sunday, the explosive offense returned against the Toreros as the Rebels tallied a season-high 15 hits and scored runs in all four innings they bat. For the first time this year, every starter recorded at least one hit in the game, with four different Rebels -
Lauren Tycksen,
Reina Bondi,
Justine Federe and
Lauryn Barker - recording two or more hits.
UNLV's pitching was its usual model of consistency, with freshman
Jenny Bressler getting the start and shutting out San Diego for 3.0 innings to pick up her ninth win. Junior
Breana Burke relieved Bressler in the fourth and finished out the victory over the final two frames. It marked the fifth straight game the Rebels have allowed three runs or less and the 14th time in 19 games this year.
THE TURNING POINT: Through two innings the Rebels led by four, but they put the game completely out of reach in the third. A
Myranda Bueno fielder's choice, a
Lauryn Barker single and a Tycksen single loaded the bases with one out, which was followed by a Bondi sacrifice fly to bring Bueno home for the 5-0 lead. Next up was sophomore
Mia Trejo, who sent the ball over the left center field wall on the first pitch for the three-run home run and the 8-0 lead. UNLV added three runs in the bottom of the fourth to provide the final margin.
STAT OF THE GAME: The top four spots in the lineup -
Lauren Tycksen,
Reina Bondi,
Mia Trejo and
Justine Federe - combined to go 9-for-10 with eight RBI and seven runs scored.
REBEL OF THE GAME: Tycksen has been a spark plug at the top of the lineup and that continued against San Diego as she went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with four runs scored and one RBI.
UP NEXT: The Rebels will fly to Northern California for the Stanford Invitational, March 8-10, in their last non-conference tournament of the year, opening the weekend Friday, March 8 at 12:15 p.m. against Bucknell.
REBEL NOTES:
* Federe extended her team-high hitting streak to 12 games with a 2-for-3 day against San Diego. Her 21 RBI this year lead the team and the Mountain West
* Tycksen's 4-for-4 day also extended her hitting streak to nine games. The junior leads all Rebels with a .513 average this year
* Freshman
Statia Cermak has made the most of her opportunities at the plate as she is now 12-for-24 (.500) after a 1-for-2 day
* Bressler's stellar first collegiate season continues as the freshman is now 9-2 with a 2.22 ERA and a team-leading 54 strikeouts after four more strikeouts against San Diego, which included striking out the side in the first inning. She's also allowed just 20 total runs in 63.0 innings pitched
* The pitching staff as a whole has been impressive with a combined 2.28 ERA, allowing three runs or less in 14 of 19 games this season
* UNLV in now 36-40 for stolen bases on the season after swiping just 31 all of last season
* UNLV is outscoring its opponents 119-42
* Another game without an error for the Rebel defense; UNLV has committed just six errors all season and has yet to commit more than one in a game
