LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — One strike made all the difference as California beat UNLV 9-5 Saturday afternoon at Eller Media Stadium. 

Kennedy Thomas' blasted a 2-2, two-out grand slam that pushed Cal's 5-2 advantage to seven runs in the seventh inning.

The Rebels constructed the beginnings of a rally but came up short, ending on an infield fly ball. UNLV cycled to the top of the batting order for the final frame and two walks setup Ariana Martinez's two-RBI double. 

Martinez batted 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

Kelsi Kelso's sacrifice fly brought in Alexys Herrera, pinch-running for Martinez, for UNLV's third score of the inning. Sofia Morales batted an infield single to load the bases but Cal reliever Annabel Teperson forced Ellie Zellien to fly out to close the game.

The fury of late-inning runs contrasted with a stalemate in the circle for the first three innings. Cal scored an early run, batted in when Kacey Zobac's two-out infield fly was lost in the sun and fell to the dirt. 

UNLV starter Jessie Fontes forced two groundouts in the third to strand a Cal runner on third. 

In the top of the fourth, Cal centerfielder Diamond Holland blasted her first pitch for her first career home run. The moonshot put the Bears up 4-0.

Zobac knocked an RBI single in the fifth which was answered by Martinez's two-RBI single in the bottom half to make the score 5-2.

UNLV and Cal start the series finale Sunday at noon.