LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team split Saturday's games on day two of the UNLV Desert Classic at Eller Media Stadium, falling to Utah 14-12 before finishing the night with a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Weber State. The loss against Utah was just the second of the season for the Rebels, who moved to 7-2 overall.
UNLV and Utah combined for 26 runs and 33 hits in the high-scoring, wild affair that saw three lead changes and a near-Rebel rally in seventh. The second game against Weber State was more tame, with the Rebels trailing most of the game before taking the lead 4-2 and holding on to it in the seventh to secure the win.
Senior Charlie Masterson picked up her third win, allowing just two runs on six hits in 6.0 innings pitched against the Wildcats, while junior Jenny Bressler notched her first save of the season, pitching a scoreless, but stressful seventh.
Game 1 Recap (UNLV vs. Utah): Utah jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Rebels were quickly able to erase that deficit with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame. The Utes had their own counter, plating four runs in the top of the second to retake the lead. UNLV got two runs back in the bottom half to cut the deficit to two, but found themselves trailing 8-5 heading into the bottom of fourth. Freshman Alyssa Lopez led off the inning with a pinch-hit triple and after a pair of RBI singles from Maddie Schmidt and Denise Armendariz, Samantha Diaz connected on a two-run double to give the Rebels a 9-8 lead. Unfortunately Utah responded with a six-run sixth to regain the lead for good at 14-9. The Rebels scored three in the bottom of the seventh to pull within two, but a Janyssa Martin flyout with runners on second and third cut the rally short.
Game 2 Recap (UNLV vs. Weber State): Weber State had manufacted a 2-0 lead on Masterson and the Rebels by the middle of the fifth inning, but the Rebels stayed calm and patient at the plate. Freshman Alyssa Trejo led off the bottom of the fifth with a double and senior Justine Federe tied the game up at two with one swing of the bat to right centerfield - her second home run of the season. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, senior Samantha Diaz was hit by a pitch, plating Maddie Schmidt from third for the go-ahead score. UNLV added an insurance run in the sixth when pinch runner Zoe Nolte scored on a passed ball from third. Needing three outs in the top of the seventh, things got a little dicey as the Wildcats put runners on second and third with no outs. That's when Bressler entered in relief of Masterson. Bressler walked the first batter she faced to load the bases, but got the force out at home on the next batter, a strikeout and a groundout to end it and preserve the win.
UP NEXT: The Rebels will wrap up the weekend Sunday with a rematch against Utah at 11 a.m.
