LAS VEGAS. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team ended the 2019 season last spring as one of the first four teams left out of the NCAA tournament and entered the 2020 campaign with unfinished business on its mind. Unfortunately, the Rebels' quest for the program's first NCAA appearance since 2009 will have to wait one more year after the NCAA and the Mountain West canceled the remainder of the spring seasons on March 12 due to the crisis the Coronavirus has created around the globe.
While the promising season was cut short, the highlights were still aplenty and the experience should serve well for 2021.
Superlatives:
- UNLV had just finished its non-conference tournament slate with a 21-5 record, matching the second-best start through 26 games in program history and best start in three years under Coach Kristie Fox
- After opening the season 2-3 on the first weekend of the season, the Rebels won 19 of their next 21 games, which included two tournaments that saw them go 5-0 on the weekend (UT Chattanooga's Frost Classic & Grand Canyon's Lopes Up Classic)
- Season-high winning streak of seven games was longest under Fox and longest since the 2010 team won 10 straight at one point
- The pitching staff's 1.71 ERA finished ranked 14th in the country and was on pace to be ninth-best ERA in program history and best since 2005. The trio of senior Breana Burke, Charlie Masterson and sophomore Jenny Bressler all ranked in the top-seven in the Mountain West with Bressler in third at 1.27, Burke in sixth at 1.91 and Masterson seventh at 1.92
- Tallied eight shutouts on the season, which finished 16th in the nation
- Rebels' .980 fielding percentage was first in the Mountain West and ranked fifth in the country, marking the second straight year finishing in the top-10 in that category
- Outscored opponents 32-3 in the first inning and were 20-0 when striking first; 17-0 when leading after four innings and 11-0 when scoring six or more runs
Top Moments:
- Eight-Run 7th-inning Comeback At UT Chattanooga - Trailing 6-1 in the top of the seventh at UTC with just three outs to work with, the Rebels rallied for eight runs, including a three-run go-ahead home run by senior Justine Federe, to erase the deficit and steal the victory.
- Federe Walk-Off Two-Run Home Run Against New Mexico State - After giving up the lead in the sixth inning, Federe came through with a two-run single to go up 4-3, but after NMSU sent it to extra innings, Federe left no doubt in the eight, hitting a two-run home run to end the game for a 6-4 UNLV win.
- Federe Two Home Runs In Extra-Inning Affair With Grand Canyon - Federe hit a pair of home runs in what ended up being the last game of the season - a two-run home run and a solo shot - in a 8-7 win in Phoenix to end the Lopes Up Classic.
- Jenny Bressler Throws UNLV's first no-hitter since 2013 - began the opening day of the Marucci Desert Classic on a high note, notching its first shutout of the season 8-0 over Montana (4-2) behind five no-hit innings by sophomore Jenny Bressler. It was the first no-hitter by a UNLV pitcher since former Rebel standout Amanda Oliveto threw one on March 17, 2013 against Massachusetts and just the 16th overall in 36 seasons.
- Top Performances:
- Justine Federe, SR, 2B - The 2019 NFCA All-Region Third Team selection was having an outstanding senior year and likely would have been a candidate for all-conference, all-region and all-american nods. The second baseman hit .376 with 26 RBIs, 22 runs scored and six home runs, which were all team-best marks in 2020. The senior had five game-winning RBIs in the last three weekends of the season alone. Federe earned her first Mountain West Player of the Week honor on Feb. 25 after going 8-for-18 (.444) with six RBI, six runs scored and two game-winning hits, including the three-run home run as part of an eight-run seventh-inning comeback against UT Chattanooga. She also had a team-high 15-game hitting streak this season.
- Jenny Bressler, SO, P - After having one of the best seasons by a freshman pitcher in program history in 2019, the Mountain West All-Conference and NFCA First Team honoree from a year ago picked up where she left off. The sophomore righty had already collected 11 wins and let the conference in opposing batting average (.180), was tied for first in wins (11) and was second in innings pitched (82.2) and batters struck out (89). She also accounted for five of UNLV's eight shutouts and had a strong final weekend in Phoenix, going 3-0 with two complete games, including a 1-0 complete-game shutout against Montana, with 17 strikeouts in 19.0 innings pitched
- Breana Burke, SR, P - Followed up an outstanding junior campaign in 2020 and was on pace for a career year in the circle. She finished 4-0 with two complete games, a 1.91 ERA and 29 strikeouts. The versatile pitcher was used both as a starter and a closer and at one point in the season had a streak of 21.0 scoreless innings.
- Charlie Masterson, SR, P - Was also on pace for a career year in the circle. Finished the year 6-2 with a 1.92 ERA and 36 strikeouts
- Maddie Schmidt, FR, OF - Schmidt cracked the everyday lineup as a freshman, taking over the starter role in left and the two hole in the lineup. The 1-2 punch of Federe and Schmidt at the top of the order sparked the offense early, often allowing the Rebels to score first and score fast to take the lead for good. The speedster also led UNLV on the base-paths, going a perfect 17-for-17 on stolen bases
