LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team extended its winning streak to four games with a pair of shutouts Friday to open the UNLV Desert Classic at Eller Media Stadium. The Rebels blanked Weber State 5-0 and Cal Baptist 2-0 to improve to 6-1, marking the third time in four years under head coach Kristie Fox they have started the year with just one loss through the first seven games.
Pitchers Jenny Bressler and Charlie Masterson dominated in the circle, combining for 11.0 scoreless frames. Bressler allowed three hits in 6.0 innings pitched and six strikeouts to notch her fourth win of the season, while Masterson followed with a three-hit, four-strikeout performance in 5.0 innings pitched for her second win. Freshmen Kaylie Northrop and Jenna Perez each pitched scoreless innings in relief, with Perez getting the final six outs - three by way of strikeouts - to record her first career save. Four of the Rebels' six wins have been shutouts, while the pitching staff improved its ERA from 3.25 to 2.17 after Friday's effort.
While last weekend was what seemed like a home run derby, Friday's games were about small ball. UNLV strung together singles, timely hitting, stolen bases and took advantage of base running opportunities to push runs across the plate in tightly contested games. Senior Lauren Tycksen, who went 3-for-13 opening weekend, rebounded nicely with a 4-for-7 day that included scoring and driving in what proved to be the game-winning runs in both contests.
Game 1 Recap (UNLV vs. Weber State): The Rebels broke the scoreless game in the bottom of the third when Tycksen singled to left field with one out. The speedy senior then stole second, forcing an errant throw that went into center, allowing her to reach third. When the centerfielder tried to throw her out at third, that ball sailed past the third baseman and Tycksen scored all the way from first for the 1-0 lead. Two innings later, junior Denise Armendariz added a pair of insurance runs on a two-run double to right center to score sophomore Maddie Schmidt and freshman Alyssa Lopez, who led off the inning with a pinch-hit single. Fellow freshman Janyssa Martin, who had a breakout Rebel debut last weekend, followed with a sacrifice fly for her eighth RBI of 2021 to make it 4-0, while sophomore Alyssa Trejo drove in the final Rebel run with a pinch-hit single to left field. After relieving Bressler in the seventh, freshman Kaylie Northrop struck out two to preserve the shutout.
Game 2 Recap (UNLV vs. Cal Baptist): The night cap was another close contest with UNLV getting the only runs it would need in the third inning. After senior Justine Federe led off with a walk, a Schmidt single, a Barker's fielder's choice and a passed ball put runners on second and third with one out. That brought up Tycksen, who sent a hard-hit shot to second base for the groundout, but it was enough to score Schmidt from third for the 1-0 lead. The next batter, senior Mia Trejo, snuck a RBI single through the left side to score Barker from third and give the Rebels the 2-0 lead they would never relinquish. Masterson went five innings before giving way to Perez, who has been stellar in relief to start her true freshman campaign.
UP NEXT: The Rebels will play two more Saturday as the UNLV Desert Classic continues at Eller Media Stadium, taking on Utah at 3 p.m. and another matchup with Weber State in the night cap at 5:30 p.m.
