LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team began the 2020 campaign with a pair of one-run losses to the Cal State Northridge Matadors and Oregon State Beavers in the Rebel Kickoff at Eller Media Stadium Friday.
The Scarlet & Gray (0-2) were paced offensively on the day by two-hit efforts from
Maddie Schmidt and
Mia Trejo, while
Justine Federe added two RBI to Trejo's one RBI.
In the circle,
Jenny Bressler and
Charlie Masterson combined to strike out 14 batters against two earned runs (five runs total), 12 hits and two walks.
GAME ONE RECAP: After tying the game at 2-all off a two-run double by Federe in the bottom of the first, runs became a premium as CSUN pushed across one in the second and another in the fifth to stake itself to a 4-2 lead. The Rebels were unable to muster any offense until the bottom of the seventh when
Mia Trejo led off the frame with a solo homer, cutting the lead to only one. UNLV managed to get the would-be tying run to third base when Samanth Diaz reached second off a throwing error, and later took third off a groundout by
Alyssa Trejo; however, a fly out to center field followed to end the contest.
GAME TWO RECAP: Masterson and OSU's Mariah Mazon went toe-to-toe in the second game of the day for both squads, with the only run coming off a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Masterson stuck out six and only allowed one unearned run off of six hits and one walk, while Mazon struck out nine against three walks, and kept the Rebels hitless. Coincidentally, it was the OSU hurler who helped her own cause by getting on base in the sixth off a one-out single. Following the hit, Karla Calderon entered the game as a pinch-runner for Mazon and wound up making her way around the bases following a two-base throwing error and Maia Rader's sac fly.
IN OTHER ACTION: In the two neutral games at the Rebel Kickoff, Southern Utah suffered a 5-0 loss to Oregon State and an 8-5 defeat to CSUN.
UP NEXT: The Rebels return to Eller Media Stadium Saturday for a pair of rematches on day two of their home tournament. UNLV will face CSUN at 3:00 pm and follow that affair with a 5:30 pm tilt against Oregon State.
