LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team (5-3) notched two more shutouts Friday on day two of the Marucci Desert Classic to bring its shutout streak to three games behind 19 straight scoreless innings by the Rebels pitching staff. UNLV blanked Weber State 7-0 in game one thanks to a complete-game performance by senior Breana Burke, then capped the night with a narrow 2-0 win over Montana after fellow senior Charlie Masterson came up two outs short of her own complete game shutout.
After starting the season 1-3, the Rebels have rebounded four four straight wins to improve to 5-3. A night after sophomore Jenny Bressler recorded UNLV's first no-hitter since 2013, the trio of Burke, Masterson and Bressler teamed up to allow just nine hits, zero runs and 11 strikeouts over 14 innings to bring their staff ERA to a stingy 1.08.
Masterson is having a particularly strong start to her final collegiate campaign as the senior has yet to give up an earned run in 13.2 innings pitched and matched her single-game career high fanning six batters against Montana.
Offensively, junior Mia Trejo led the way with four RBI over the two games, which included the game-winning two-run home run to break a scoreless tie against Montana in the night cap.
Game 1 Recap (UNLV vs. Weber State): The Rebel offense jumped all over the Wildcats from the first frame as senior Lauren Tycksen led off with a single and eventually made her way to home plate on a Trejo RBi single. UNLV added three more runs in the second inning after a Trejo groundout with the bases loaded scored two and a RBI single by Justine Federe made it 4-0. The Rebels put the game out of reach in the third with some patience at the plate, drawing a pair of bases-loaded walks and a hit by pitch to put three more up and make it 7-0. The Rebels drew a season-high nine walks in the game.
Game 2 Recap (UNLV vs. Montana): In a rematch from Thursday night's 8-0 win in five innings over Montana, the Grizzlies didn't let the Rebels off as easy as they had in the first matchup. The pitcher's duel extended into the fourth inning with UNLV being held without a hit into the bottom half of the frame. After freshman Maddie Schmidt walked to lead off the inning, one swing changed the game as junior standout Trejo sent her second home run of the year over the wall in left center to break up the no-hitter and give the Rebels the lead for good. Montana fought until the end though, loading the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Bressler relieved Masterson to strike out the final batter and preserve the win. The Grizzlies out-hit the Rebels 6-2 in the game, marking the first time UNLV had won when losing that battle.
UP NEXT: The Marucci Desert Classic continues Saturday with four more games on the slate, beginning at 10 a.m. featuring Utah Valley and Montana. UNLV will again play in the final two games of the evening, taking on Utah Valley at 3 p.m. and Weber State at 5:30 p.m.
