SAN DIEGO, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team split day one of the San Diego Tournament hosted by the University of San Diego on Friday, March 1 at the USD Softball Complex. The Rebels started the day with an 8-2 victory over CSUN, but fell to the Toreros 6-2.
 
UNLV (8-7) got ahead early in game one in the bottom of the first inning against the Matadors (12-4) and held CSUN off the board until the top of the sixth inning when the Matadors tied the game 1-all. The Rebels then answered with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth and as the Matadors tried to rally in the top of the seventh, UNLV shut them down to hold onto the win. Game two was tough for UNLV as the bat did not come alive against the Toreros (4-13) until the top of the seventh inning. 
 
Alanna Thiede picked up her fifth win of the season against the Matadors, pitching the entire seven innings, striking out seven batters, which is one shy of tying her career high of eight.
 
GAME 1: UNLV 8, CSUN 2
 
The Rebels jumped out front, 1-0, in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a Jesse Farrell RBI single through the left side. After four scoreless innings, the Matadors tied the game 1-all in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI to left. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Farrell led off with a single up the middle. Farrell then stole second to put herself in scoring position. Kelsie Kelso then walked on a five-pitch at-bat before Sofia Morales put down a sacrifice bunt and was able to reach base on a CSUN error that allowed Farrell to come across the plate and make it 2-1 in favor of UNLV. Another error by the Matadors allowed another UNLV run to come across the plate, 3-1. Marisa Bowman then put down a sac bunt which then gave UNLV runners on second and third. Rylei Trujillo stepped up to the plate to pinch hit, and drew a walk on five pitches. Ariana Martinez got into the box and on a 2-1 count smacked a bases clearing double to left center and made it 6-1. Janyssa Martin followed with a double of her own to center, bringing Martinez across the plate and gave UNLV a 7-1 lead. Farrell then kept the bats going with another single up the middle to bring Martin home for the Rebels, 8-1. In the top of the seventh, the Matadors attempted to get a two-out rally going, but was held to only one run and the Rebels ended the game with a line drive to Martinez at first.
 
GAME 2: UNLV 2, USD 6
 
After two and a half innings, the Toreros broke it open in the bottom of the third inning, scoring six runs on five hits to take a 6-0 lead. In the top of the fourth inning, the Rebels had two runners on, after a Toreros' error and a walk, but were unable to bring them around. Both squads were scoreless for the fifth and sixth inning and it was the top of the seventh inning when the UNLV bats came alive. With one out in the top of the seventh inning, Lorenzza Marcacci pinch hit and drew a five-pitch walk. Martinez then got on base with a ground ball to the shortstop. With runners on first and second, now with two outs, Janyssa Martin roped a single to right center, which brought Marcacci and Martinez across the plate, 6-2. Farrell then sent one back up the middle to give UNLV runners on first and second with still two outs. The Rebels were then retired on a strikeout and could not complete a comeback.
 
OTHER NOTES:

• Jesse Farrell had another great day at the plate going 4-for-6, a walk and two RBi through two games. Farrell was also 1-for-1 on the base path in stolen bases. In game one of the day, Farrell tied her career-high in hits with three.
• Ariana Martinez was 2-for-4 against the Matadors and had three RBI.
• Janyssa Martin had two hits on the day and three RBI.

 
UP NEXT: The Rebels will continue the San Diego Tournament at the USD Softball Complex on Saturday, March 2 with their first game at 9 a.m. against CSU Bakersfield. UNLV will then stay on the field for its second game at 11:30 a.m. against CSUN.