PHOENIX, AZ (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team capped a perfect 5-0 weekend at the Lopes Up Classic Sunday, beating tournament host Grand Canyon for the second time in three days. The rematch wasn't as easy as Friday's 7-1 victory as it took nine innings to put the Antelopes away for good in the 8-7 win.
The Rebels improved to 21-5 overall and have won 19 of their last 21 after starting the season 2-3. UNLV's 21-5 mark through 26 games is its best under third-year coach Kristie Fox and is tied for the second-best start through 26 games in program history.
UNLV looked like it would cruise to another easy win over Grand Canyon, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning behind a RBI double by sophomore Statia Cermak, a RBI single by junior CC Caccamise and a two-run home run by, no surprise, Justine Federe - all with two outs. It took one swing of the bat though to cut the lead to one as the 'Lopes blasted a three-run home run in the third.
With the Rebels still clinging to a one-run lead in the fifth, Federe came through with a second home run, this one a solo shot to give UNLV some breathing room. That was followed by a Samantha Diaz RBI in the same inning and the lead was at three. GCU got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, but the Rebels were still one out away from the win in the bottom of the seventh when the home team tied it up at six with a two-run home run off of reliever Jenny Bressler.
After a scoreless eighth, UNLV had runners on second and third - the runner on third due to international tiebreaker rules - in the top of the ninth and Mia Trejo sent a high ball out to left field. Sophomore Julia Vollmer sprinted towards the plate as soon as the ball was caught and beat the relay for the go-ahead run. The next batter, sophomore Denise Armendariz, sent a ball right at the GCU shortstop, who bobbled what would have been the third out of the inning, but instead scored Federe for the much needed two-run lead.
GCU again made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth, pulling within one run, but this time Bressler closed it out with a groundout and pop up to pick up her 11th win of the season. In total Bressler pitched 5.0 innings and struck out four in relief.
Senior Breana Burke made the start in the circle for UNLV and allowed three runs on four hits in 4.0 innings pitched in the no decision.
UP NEXT: UNLV returns home to open conference play with a Silver State Series showdown against rival UNR, Friday, March 13-15, at Eller Media Stadium. First pitch is set for Friday at 6 p.m.
