SAN JOSE, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team defeated San Jose State 8-5 in the series opener on Friday night at Spartan Softball Field. With tonight's win against the Spartans and Fresno State's win over Boise State, the Rebels have clinched a spot in the 2024 Mountain West Softball Championships.
The Rebels (28-15, 11-6 MW) came out ready to go and took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning over the Spartans (14-26, 3-13 MW). Although San Jose State cut the deficit in half in the bottom half of the first, the Scarlet & Gray scored in the last three innings to come out with the victory.
Ellie Zellien collected her ninth win of the season (fourth in the MW) and
Alanna Thiede came in and earned her first career save.
THE TURNING POINT: After the Rebels were ahead 4-2 after the first inning, UNLV was held off the board for three innings until tallying another run in the top of the fifth thanks to a
Sofia Morales RBI infield single, 5-2. In the top of the sixth inning, the Scarlet & Gray added two more to the lead on an
Ariana Martinez RBI double to center and a sac fly by
Jesse Farrell to make it 7-2. The Rebels weren't done yet and brought across one more in the top of the seventh on a beautiful ground ball to the right side with bases loaded. The Spartans got three runs in the bottom half of the seventh, but UNLV got out of a bases-loaded jam with two outs on a fly ball to right.
OTHER NOTES:
- The Rebels will head to Boise, Idaho for the Mountain West Softball Championships on May 9-11.
- Ariana Martinez reached base on every at-bat tonight going 2-for-2 including two doubles, two walks, a RBI and scored two runs
- Sofia Morales was 2-for-3 against the Spartans. Morales had a double, a walk, scored two runs and had two RBI.
- Alyssa Trejo went 2-for-4 at the plate including two RBI.
- Kelsie Kelso had a hit against San Jose State and had two RBI.
UP NEXT: The Rebels and Spartans will play game two of the series on Saturday, April 27 at 3 p.m.
