LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — Ariana Martinez and Alanna Thiede shined for a second straight day as the Rebels clinched their second straight Mountain West series victory.

UNLV (19-17 overall, 5-6 Mountain West) used an opportunistic third inning to surge ahead and then hold off Fresno State (15-21, 4-4) 5-4 Friday at Eller Media Stadium. 

"We've really been focusing on putting the ball in play and making the other team work," UNLV Head Coach Kristie Fox said. "When we do that, we tend to give ourselves some opportunities. And some of those opportunities came today when the ball didn't even leave the infield yet we were able to score."

The Rebels batted through the order in the third, taking a 4-0 advantage. Martinez smacked a double beyond Taryn Irigoyen's reach in center field to drive in UNLV's first run. Denise Armendariz duplicated the trick in the next at-bat with an RBI double to right field. Kelsie Kelso grounded out to the pitcher but Martinez cashed in against an indecisive infield to score from third. Janyssa Martin finished the scoring run by batting a single off shortstop Alesia Denby's outstretched leather to plate Armendariz.

The Bulldogs took a run back in the next frame as Denby scored on Jamie Hicks' sacrifice fly. 

But Martinez wasn't done. UNLV's designated player legged out her chopper to shallow center. Denby was able to corral the ball and make a close play at first but the effort was for naught as Hailey Schmaltz sped home from second on the play to steal another two-out RBI. 

Martinez batted 3-for-3 with two RBIs and has batted in seven runs through two games of the series.

"Nana's (Martinez) been really locked in. Other teams have used the option of not even pitching to her and I think (Armendariz) swinging the bat better as of late has really helped Nana get some pitches for us to drive in runs."

After an 0-for-13 start to conference play, Armendariz has batted .280 with nine RBIs in the last six games.

In the top of the fifth, Fresno State's Abby Doughty scored after a pair of wild pitches aided her path around the bases. Then Denby cranked her second hit of the game, an 0-2 RBI single through the gap between third base and shortstop.

Vanessa Hernandez brought Fresno State within one run when she walked and scored on Bella Rocco's triple in the sixth. However, Thiede, who pitched a no-hitter Thursday, puzzled the Bulldogs for a second straight day, cutting down five of the six batters she faced in relief to earn her second save of the season. 

Ellie Zellien (W, 6-4) claimed the victory after allowing just two hits in 4-⅔ innings. 

UNLV and Fresno State finish the three-game series Saturday at noon.