LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team couldn't have asked for a better start to its final home conference weekend of the season as the Rebels walked it off twice over Fresno State (30-9, 14-3) Saturday at Eller Media Stadium to secure their sixth league series victory. UNLV took the opener 6-5 on a Mia Trejo RBI single off the wall in the bottom of the seventh, then ran away with game two, 9-1, in five innings after junior Denise Armendariz drove in the game-ending score for the run-rule win.
In what could prove to be the biggest weekend for UNLV softball in over a decade, the Rebels picked up two crucial wins to improve to 25-11 overall and 17-3 in Mountain West play, which puts them in sole possession of first place in the league standings. The victories provide an advantage for UNLV heading into the final games of the regular season as the Rebels and Bulldogs race to the finish line for the conference title and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA postseason. UNLV is looking for its first ever Mountain West championship and first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2009.
Entering the weekend, Fresno State was in first place in the Mountain West standings, riding a 13-game winning streak and hadn't given up a run in six consecutive shutouts, but the Rebels weren't intimidated, scoring 15 runs against the best pitching staff in the league. Facing six-time Mountain West Pitcher of the Week Haley Dolcini, who was 17-3 with a 0.87 ERA, the UNLV offense tagged her with five runs - all on home runs - to chase her out of the circle in the fifth inning in game one. FS game-two starter Danielle Lung, who had previously had success against UNLV, didn't fare any better as the Rebels scored six on her in 3.1 innings of work.
The long ball has shown up in a big way for the Scarlet and Gray during conference play, particularly over the last month. After an 11-game stretch without hitting a single home run, the Rebels have hit 20 over the last 12 games, including the five between the two games Saturday. The usual suspects were responsible for the bombs as Armendariz hit a three-run home run in game one, senior Justine Federe knocked two on the day - a solo shot and a two-run home run - and Trejo hit a two-run dinger in game two as part of a seven RBI day.
Trejo had quite the day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with one run scored, two walks and the game-winning hit in the series opener, followed by a 3-for-4 line with one run scored, the two-run shot and six total RBI. Federe mashed too as she went 4-for-6 (.667) with three RBI, three runs scored and a walk.
The Rebel pitching duo of junior Jenny Bressler and senior Charlie Masterson continued to be strong and steady in the circle. Bressler started game one and held the league-best Bulldog offense scoreless through five innings. FS took advantage of a pair of Bressler mistakes over the plate to tie the game up at five in the top of the seventh, but her offense had her back and delivered her a 15th win of the season, which includes a 10-1 mark in MW games. Masterson, who has been brilliant over the last month, picked up her sixth win of the season after allowing seven hits in five scoreless frames in game two.
Game 1 Recap: In the expected pitcher's duel between both team's aces, each team threatened with runners on base in the opening frame. Bressler was able to throw out the Bulldog runner trying to steal home after a strikeout, while Dolcini struck out two to get out of her own jam. Fresno again got a runner to third in the second, but another heads up play by catcher Julia Vollmer and Bresser got the runner out trying to take home on a passed ball. The game stayed scoreless until the bottom of the third when Federe hit a double, Trejo walked and Armendariz sent a bomb down the left field line that stayed just fair for a 3-0 UNLV lead. Junior Lauryn Barker hit her second home run of the year for a 4-0 lead in the fourth, while Federe added a solo shot in the fifth for a 5-0 UNLV lead. Fresno stormed back with a three-run homer in the sixth and a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to tie the game up at five. The Rebels didn't panic, however, as leadoff hitter Maddie Schmidt walked and reached third after a stolen base and a throwing error. Federe singled to the pitcher to put runners on the corners with no outs and Trejo delivered with a RBI single off the wall to end it.
Game 2 Recap: Fresno State would jump on top early with a first-inning solo home run, but that would be it for them in game two. The Rebels immediately responded in the bottom half of the frame as Trejo skyed a two-run home run after a Schmidt walk to give UNLV the lead for good. The second inning began with a Schmidt single and Federe brought her home again with her own two-run shot and just like that it was 4-1. In the fourth, a Barker double and a Schmidt single put two on for Trejo again, and she came through with a two-run single up the middle for the 6-1 lead. In the very next inning, it was Barker and Schmidt with back-to-back singles to put Trejo back at the plate with two on. She was clutch again with another two-run single up the middle for her fifth and sixth RBIs of the game and the 8-1 lead. With the bases juiced, Armendariz sent the ball through the left side of the infield to score the ninth and final run to complete the walk off.
UP NEXT: UNLV will go for its third sweep in conference play in 2021 in Sunday's series finale against Fresno State. First pitch is set for noon. A series sweep over the Bulldogs would put the Rebels' destiny in their own hands and they head into their final conference series next week against in-state rival UNR.
