LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team started the weekend strong with a pair of wins Friday at the Lopes Up Classic in Phoenix, beating Saint Joseph's 5-3 and host Grand Canyon 7-1.
The Rebels have now won 16 of their last 18 after beginning the season 2-3, while they have started 18-5 for the second straight year, matching the third-best start through 23 games in program history.
UNLV scored early and often in the victories, with 11 of its 12 runs in the two games coming in the first three innings. Six different Rebels recorded RBIs, led by junior Mia Trejo, whose two-run double against Saint Joseph's proved to be the difference in the 5-3 victory. The Tucson, Arizona, native also added a solo home run in the third inning against Grand Canyon, her third of the season.
Sophomore Denise Armendariz, who was a productive weapon at the plate as a freshman a year ago, made her season debut Friday after a preseason injury kept her out the first month of the season and made the most of it of her first start against the Lopes, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. The solo shot came in the third inning immediately following Trejo's home run, marking the second time in 2020 the Rebels hit back-to-back home runs.
Senior Breana Burke made the start against Saint Joseph's, allowing three runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings pitched to improve to 4-0 on the season. Fellow senior Charlie Masterson entered for the final two frames to pick up her third save. Sophomore Jenny Bressler made the start in game two against GCU, throwing her sixth complete game for her ninth win this year. The Canton, Michigan, native allowed one run on just three hits in the ball game.
Game 1 Recap (UNLV vs. Saint Joseph's): Senior Justine Federe and freshman Maddie Schmidt have proved to be a productive tandem at the top of the lineup and that was no different to start the game against Saint Joseph's. Federe led off with a walk, then Schmidt brought her home with a RBI triple for the 1-0 lead. UNLV added four runs in the second inning, which included two sacrifice flies by juniors Jaclyn Candelas and CC Caccamise followed by the Trejo two-run double to make it 5-0. SJU made things interesting, scoring three runs in the fifth, then getting runners to second and third in the seventh before Masterson worked out of the jam for the save.
Game 2 Recap (UNLV vs. Grand Canyon): UNLV jumped out in front early again, this time on a Samantha Diaz RBI double and a Lauren Tycksen RBI single up the middle for a 2-0 lead. Tycksen came around to score on an error and before GCU even had a chance at the plate the Rebels were up 3-0. In the third inning, Trejo led the inning with a laser solo shot to left field, then Armendariz sent the first pitch over the wall in center for the back-to-back jacks. Bressler cruised, scattering one run on three hits over the seven innings with five strikeouts, and had help from the defense, who turned two double plays.
UP NEXT: The Lopes Up Classic continues Saturday for the Rebels as they take on Saint Joseph's again at 9 a.m. PT and then face Montana for the third time this season at 11:30 a.m. PT. The Rebels and the Grizzlies met twice earlier in the season in Las Vegas, with UNLV winning 8-0 in five innings and 2-0 in the rematch.
