LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team came back to Eller Media Stadium and dominated as they won back-to-back victories. In the first game, the Rebels (7-5) limited Southern Utah (7-7) to only two runs. Between the fourth and fifth innings, UNLV had complete command as they produced 10 runs on 13 hits to take a 10-2 victory over the Thunderbirds. As the Rebels faced a nail-biter extra innings game against Santa Clara (6-8), it was the grit of UNLV which led them to walk away with a 6-5 victory over the Broncos.
 
GAME 1: UNLV 10, SUU 2 (5 innings)
The Thunderbirds scored right off the bat to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. It was after that; the Rebels defense was focused as they did not allow another run in until the top of the fifth. Janyssa Martin swung things off for the Rebels at the top of the fourth with a single to left field. The momentum was just starting for the team, as Alyssa Trejo followed with another single to the opposite side. Jesse Farrell blasted a home run into left field to clear the bases and guide the team to a 3-1 lead. Sofia Morales and Charelle Aki kept it going as they hit back-to-back singles. In the final out, Ariana Martinez squeezed in one more run for the team as she brought home Morales to make it 4-1. Southern Utah could not get an out from the Rebels as the fifth inning was nonstop. Marissa Bowman opened the inning with a single, followed by a Farrell single. Kelsie Kelso had her first hit of the day, in which her single brought Farrell across the plate. UNLV kept slowly increasing the lead on six runs and six hits to end the game on a 10-2 run-rule in the bottom of the fifth.
 
GAME 2: UNLV 6, SANTA CLARA 5 (8 innings)
The Rebels had an exciting ending to game two of the night. Ariana Martinez hit an opening homer into center field in the bottom of the first inning. The Broncos would not give up as in the second inning they answered back with a run on an error. Despite the Rebels being scoreless at the bottom of the second, and the Broncos holding a 3-1 lead, they refused to go down without a fight. With two outs in the bottom of the third, Martinez was hit by a pitch and reached first. Maddie Schmidt put down a beauty of a bunt single to get the bats going. The bases were then loaded thanks to a Janyssa Martin walk when Farrell stepped up to the plate. Farrell delivered with a double to left field and brought all three runs in for the Rebels to close out the inning with a  4-3 lead. Both teams were left scoreless between the fourth and fifth innings. However, the Broncos fought hard to get two runs on a hit, making it 5-4 in the top of the sixth. UNLV used every advantage they could in the bottom of the sixth inning starting with a walk by Bowman. Zellien had another hit, coming in clutch for the Rebels with a double to center. As Bowman was on third ready to tie up the game all eyes were on Trujillo as she hit a sacrifice fly deep to center, which brought Bowman home to tie the game 5-all. With neither team scoring again, the game went into extra innings. Alanna Thiede and the UNLV defense set the tone as they kept the Broncos out of reach taking the lead. Morales and Bowman started the eighth with back-to-back singles. Zellien delivered with an infield single to bring home Morales and boost UNLV to beat Santa Clara 6-5.
 
UP NEXT: The Rebels will conclude the UNLV Rebel Classic at Eller Media Stadium on Sunday, February 25 at 1 p.m. against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.