LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team split day two of the Boyd Gaming Classic at Eller Media Stadium Saturday, beating New Mexico State 6-4 in a dramatic walk-off win in the eighth inning before losing the night cap 10-5 to red-hot Houston (16-4).
The Rebels' win streak ended at eight - their longest in three seasons under head coach Kristie Fox and longest since 2010 - but they have won 13 of their last 15 to move to 15-5 overall since starting the season 2-3.
After shutting out New Mexico State (10-6) 3-0 Friday, the rematch was not decided as easily as it took two clutch hits from senior Justine Federe to come away with the win in extra innings. The second one, a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, was her fourth game-winning hit in the last seven games and was the second straight against the Aggies as she drove in what proved to be the game-winner in Friday's shutout.
Against Houston, the Cougars jumped out to the lead with an eight-run third inning off of starter Charlie Masterson and while the Rebels chipped away at the lead, even pulling within three at one point, UNLV couldn't overcome allowing a season-high 10 runs in the game. It was Masterson's second loss of the season as she allowed more runs in the single inning than she had all season.
Against NMSU, senior Breana Burke gave up just one run in 5.1 innings of work in a no decision before Bressler entered and pitched the final 2.0 innings to pick up her seventh win of the season.
Despite the 14 runs allowed over the two games, the pitching staff's ERA still sits at an impressive 1.84.
The Rebel offense was also productive with 11 runs on 22 hits in the two contests. Their five runs in game two were the most Houston had allowed since February 15.
Game 1 Recap (UNLV vs. New Mexico State): The Rebels led 2-0 after five innings and it looked as if they were headed to another shutout victory over New Mexico State, but the power-hitting Aggies made it interesting with a solo home run off of Burke and a two-run home run off of Masterson to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth. UNLV responded quickly though as the Rebels got runners to second and third with two outs, setting up Federe's first clutch hit - a two-run single to retake the lead 4-3. Unfortunately, Bressler got within one out of closing out the win, but the Aggies tied it up on a solo shot in the bottom half of the seventh to send it to extras. With a runner placed on second for international tiebreaker rules, UNLV advanced her to third as the potential game-winner, but Federe made sure it didn't matter as she sent the ball over the wall in center to secure the victory.
Game 2 Recap (UNLV vs. Houston): Masterson got the start and struck out the side to start the game, but the Cougars got to her in the third for eight runs on eight hits. Houston looked as if they were cruising to a sixth straight run-rule victory, but the Rebels never gave up, getting two runs back in the bottom of the third and three more in the fourth. In fact, UNLV came up just three feet short of taking the lead. After cutting the lead to 8-5, UNLV still had the bases loaded with sophomore Lauryn Barker at the plate. Barker crushed the ball to left field, but it hung up in the air and the Houston outfielder caught it just in front of the wall for the final out of the inning. UNLV never got closer.
UP NEXT: The Rebels will wrap their final home non-conference tournament Sunday at 11:00 with a second matchup against UTEP, who they beat 3-1 to open the weekend on Friday. UNLV will be in Phoenix next weekend for its final non-conference tournament of the season, playing five games at Grand Canyon Lopes Up Classic, March 6-8.
