LOS ANGELES, CA (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team continued its road trip in LA with a doubleheader at Loyola Marymount (10-8) Saturday afternoon, but is still looking for its first win away from Eller Media Stadium. The Rebels narrowly lost both contests with the Lions winning game one, 2-0, and game two, 3-1, in eight innings.
UNLV moves to 11-8 overall and will try to break a four-game losing streak when it wraps up the weekend Sunday at Cal State Fullerton.
Despite being tagged with losses on the day, Rebel starters Charlie Masterson and Jenny Bressler were both solid in their starts as each turned in complete game performances. Masterson gave up just two runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings pitched, while Bressler tallied 11 strikeouts over 7.2 innings pitched, but ultimately gave up the two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth giving LMU the win.
The story of the day was a Rebel offense that has hit a bit of a rough patch as of late. After being the top offense in the Mountain West over the first month of the season, the Rebels haven't been able to score more than two runs in any of its last six contests, which includes three shutouts (albeit two came against No. 3 UCLA). On Saturday, UNLV managed just five hits and one run between the two games, unable to give Masterson and Bressler any run support. Despite the recent struggles, the Rebels have proved they are capable of being one of the most productive teams in the country at the plate and are sure to return to form soon.
Game 1 Recap: The two teams traded scoreless frames through the first two innings. Masterson was cruising until the bottom half of the third when LMU loaded the bases with three straight singles to start the inning. Masterson forced an out at home, but the next batter was able to bring what proved to be the game-winning run home with a sacrifice fly. The Rebels had chances to tie it in both the fifth and the sixth innings after putting two runners on in each, but couldn't come up with the clutch hit. LMU added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and UNLV went down in order in the seventh to end the game.
Game 2 Recap: UNLV grabbed the momentum from the jump as leadoff hitter Maddie Schmidt opened the game with a triple and came all the way around to score on a throwing error for the 1-0 lead, but that's all the Rebels would muster. Bressler kept LMU off the board through the first three innings, but the Lions were able to tie it up at one in the fourth after a one-out walk came around to score on a hit later in the inning. UNLV couldn't put more than one runner on base in any inning and the game went to extras tied up at one. Using international tiebreaker rules with a runner placed on second in the top of the eighth, UNLV popped up, struck out and lined out with the runner staying stranded on second. With Bressler just one out away from sending it to a ninth inning, LMU hit a two-run walk-off home run for the win.
UP NEXT: UNLV will end its first road trip of the season with one game at Cal State Fullerton on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
