LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team is back on home turf to host North Dakota State in a three-game non-conference series beginning on Saturday, April 6 and concluding on Sunday, April 7. The Rebels have a Mountain West bye-weekend.
 
SCHEDULE:
Saturday, April 6 - North Dakota State at UNLV at 2 p.m. PT
Saturday, April 6 - North Dakota State at UNLV at 4 p.m. PT
Sunday, April 7 - North Dakota State at UNLV at 12 p.m. PT
 
UNLV vs. NORTH DAKOTA STATE
All-time vs. North Dakota State: 1-1
Streak: Loss 1
Last meeting: The Bison and Rebels last met in the 2018 UNLV Sportco KickOff Classic. NDSU earned the win 3-2 in the nine inning game in Las Vegas.
 
SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA STATE: North Dakota State heads into the weekend with a 15-23 overall record and are coming off a 3-0 sweep of St. Thomas last weekend. Reanna Rudd leads the Bison with a .308 batting average. Bella Dean is not too far behind Rudd in batting, as Dean is averaging .277 and leads the team in home runs (seven) and in RBI (25). Savy Williams and Addie Bowers lead North Dakota State in the circle with Williams making 19 appearances to go with a 3.52 ERA and a 4-5 overall record. Bowers has a .355 ERA and a 3-7 overall record through her 18
appearances.
 
SERIES PROMOTIONS: Fans in attendance will receive a 2024 UNLV softball schedule poster all weekend. Additionally, the concession stand will offer $5 beers on Saturday and $6 for a hot dog, chips and water bottle or canned soda on Sunday. The Rebels will have post game autographs after every game and run the bases following Sunday's game.
 
TICKETS: Tickets are on sale now for the 2024 UNLV softball season. Season tickets are $50 for adults, $40 for seniors, faculty and staff, and alumni. Single-game tickets are $6 in advance and at the game $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, faculty and staff. Kids under 12, Nevada High School students with their high school ID, UNLV students are free at all home contests.
 
BROADCAST INFO: This weekend's series will be streamed on theMW.com/watch. Links to the stream and live stats links can be found on UNLVrebels.com
 
NEXT UP: The Rebels will not need to travel for their next series as intrastate rival UNR will come to town for a three-game MW series beginning on Friday, April 12 and concluding on Sunday, April 14. This game is part of the Silver State Series, presented by America First Credit Union.
 
LAST TIME ON THE FIELD: The UNLV softball team earned a split against Boise State in the Mountain West midweek doubleheader on Wednesday at Dona Larsen Park. The Rebels dropped game one 8-0 in five innings to the Broncos, but bounced back in the second game, which included a 51-minute weather delay, with a 4-3 win in nine innings. UNLV out hit Boise State 15-12 through both games on the day. Ellie Zellien had a career day in the circle for the Scarlet & Gray pitching a career-high 9.0 innings to earn her fifth win of the season. Through two games, Sofia Morales hit .500 (3-for-6) including the only two UNLV hits in game one. Ariana Martinez was 3-for-7 (.429) through the doubleheader and had two RBI.
 
200 WINS AT THE HELM OF THE REBELS: UNLV head coach Kristie Fox earned her 200th UNLV win on Thursday, March 28 as the Rebels defeated the Aggies 7-3 in the series opener. Fox became the second head coach in program history to reach the 200 win mark at the helm of the UNLV softball program. Shan McDonald (1987-03 with 511 wins) was the only head coach to reach 200 or more wins as the Rebels coach.
 
REBELS' SQUAD: UNLV returns 16 letterwinners, including six position starters and three pitchers. All-Mountain West selections in Ariana Martinez, Maddie Schmidt and Skyler Shaw return to the Rebels this season. UNLV welcomes six newcomers to the squad including Charelle Aki, Jesse Farrell, Mackenzie Huntington, Malia Jones, Kailani Olivas and Rylei Trujillo.
 
On the pitching side, senior Ellie Zellien led the team last season with seven wins and 69 strikeouts. Zellien made 30 appearances and 19 starts for the Rebels. Fifth year senior Alanna Thiede also returns and was second on the squad in ERA (5.21), struck out 61 hitters and had two saves. Senior Jessie Fontes is also back for the Rebels this season. Last season, Fontes made 20 appearances and 11 starts and had an ERA of 7.05.
 
The Rebels bring back the top-five hitters from last season which include juniors Ariana Martinez and Sofia Morales, seniors Janyssa Martin and Skyler Shaw and fifth year senior Maddie Schmidt. Martinez was second on the squad with a .370 batting average, she posted team-highs in doubles (16), home runs (12) and slugging percentage (.708). Morales hit .299 with four doubles and 14 RBI. Martin started all 50 games last season and batted .305 with eight doubles, six home runs and a triple. Shaw led the squad and conference in batting with a .411 average. Shaw had a double, a triple and 11 RBI. Schmidt posted a .331 batting average with two doubles and two triples. Schmidt led the squad in stolen bases and was a perfect 21-for-21.