LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – After a weekend off, the UNLV softball team returned to action Friday at Eller Media Stadium on the opening day of the Boyd Gaming Classic. The Rebels beat Idaho State 10-2 in five innings on game one of the weekend, but couldn't complete a sweep of the day with a 4-1 loss to Seattle in the night cap.
The split moved UNLV to 8-4 on the season.
The pitching staff was solid in both contests as freshman Jenna Perez made her first collegiate start and pitched a complete game against the Bengals in game one. The Temecula, California, native had previously only seen action in relief, but made the most of her first start, striking out five and allowing just two runs on three hits - the two runs coming on one home run - to pick up her first victory.
Bressler was also her steady self in starting game two. The junior ace held the Redhawks scoreless through four innings and only allowed two runs on three hits, but was tagged with her second loss the season.
The UNLV offense started the day on a high note with the 10-run outing, but missed opportunities were the story for game two. The normally clutch Rebels, who consistently have hit over .300 with runners in scoring position in the Kristie Fox era, couldn't come through with the big hits they needed, leaving 12 runners stranded in the game, including two innings with the bases loaded.
Game 1 Recap (UNLV vs. Idaho State): UNLV struck first in the first inning with two runs, scoring on a passed ball and a Mia Trejo sacrifice fly after sophomore Maddie Schmidt led off with a double and Lauren Tycksen put two on with no outs on a single. Two innings later, Trejo sent her second home run of the season over the wall in left, doubling the Rebels' lead with the two-run shot. The Bengals cut the lead back to two in the top of the fifth on their own two-run homer, but the Rebels quickly responded in the bottom half. After loading the bases, junior Denise Armendariz drew a walk to make it 5-2 and sophomore Alyssa Trejo connected on a double down the left field line to bring home two more for the 7-2 lead. Next up was freshman Janyssa Martin sent a ball up the middle for a RBI and the 8-2 lead. With Martin on first and Trejo on third, Samantha Diaz sent her own double down the left field line to bring home the final two runs for the walk-off run-rule victory.
Game 2 Recap (UNLV vs. Seattle): The Rebels had another chance to take a first-inning lead after they loaded the bases with no outs, but they couldn't push anything across the plate. The game was tightly contested after that with Bressler keeping the Seattle offense at bay and the Rebels scattering hits over the next two frames. UNLV finally broke through in the fourth after freshman Alyssa Lopez brought home Justine Federe on a RBI fielder's choice with the bases loaded, but it was all Seattle after that. The Redhawks tied it up in the fifth, took the lead in the sixth and added two insurance runs in the seventh. UNLV's best chance came in the sixth when they again had the bases loaded, but a strikeout ended the threat.
UP NEXT: The Rebels won't have to wait long to try to and avenge their loss to the Redhawks as the two teams will meet again Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. before UNLV takes on Utah Valley at 5:30 p.m.
