LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team opened the 2025 campaign in the win column run-ruling both Buffalo and Southern Utah on opening day of the UNLV Desert Classic on Friday at Eller Media Stadium.
 
The Rebels (2-0) collected an 11-3 victory in six innings over the Bulls (0-2) and won 9-1 in six innings against Southern Utah (0-2). The Scarlet & Gray went 19-for-52 (.365) at the plate through two games, had a combined 18 RBI, three home runs including two by Diamond Sefe that walked off both games. Yanina Sherwood and Jazmine Chavez each earned their first collegiate wins in the circle for the Rebels.
 
GAME 1: UNLV 11, Buffalo 3 (6 innings)
 
Buffalo jumped out front first in the top of the first inning taking a 3-0 lead. After two scoreless innings, Sefe drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fourth. Mantha Hatzenbeller then put down a bunt single to give the Rebels runners on first and second with no outs. UNLV then took advantage of a Buffalo throwing error to score a run and also have runners in scoring position, 3-1. Destinee Noury came in to pinch hit and got on base with a walk to load the bases. Jesse Farrell hit the ball to the right side that brought in another run for the Rebels, 3-2. With one out and runners on second and third, Sofia Morales smacked the first triple of the season to right field to give UNLV a 4-3 lead. Ariana Martinez stepped into the box next and roped a two-run homer over the right center wall to extend the lead 6-3. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Bri Williams doubled-down the right field line with one out. With two outs, Farrell singled to right center, bringing in Williams and made it 7-3. Martinez led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk and Karmyna Becerra was hit by a pitch to give the Scarlet & Gray runners on first and second with no outs. Charelle Aki also drew a walk to load the bases. The Rebels were smart on the base path and scored on a Buffalo wild pitch to make it 8-3. Sefe then stepped to the plate and roped a walk-off three-run home run straight out to center.
 
GAME 2: UNLV 9, Southern Utah 1 (6 innings)
 
The Thunderbirds scored one run in the top of the first inning to take an early lead. In the bottom of the second inning, the Rebels countered. With two outs, Hatzenbeller drew a walk, moving Bri Hamilton to second after her one-out walk. Farrell then doubled down the left field line, scoring Hamilton to tie the game 1-all. UNLV took advantage of a Southern Utah error bringing in another run to take a 2-1 lead. Martinez then traded places with Farrell on a bases clearing left-center double and made it 4-1. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Farrell got on base with a walk. Morales put down a bunt single to move Farrell to second. Martinez hit a ball on the right side that put Morales and Farrell in scoring position. Becerra singled to right center, bringing in both runners to put the Rebels ahead 6-1. Aki hit a single of her own to move Becerra. Sefe then doubled in the gap to left bringing in another run for UNLV. The fifth was scoreless by both squads and in the bottom of the sixth, the Rebels had another two-out rally. Aki stepped to the plate and doubled to right center, putting herself in scoring position. As Sefe stepped into the box with a 3-1 count, the next pitch she saw, Sefe blasted the next pitch over the center field wall to walk-off the run rule again.
 
OTHER NOTES:

• This is the second consecutive season the Rebels have started with two run-rule victories.
• Morales was a combined .500 on the day going 4-for-8 at the plate with three RBI and a triple.
• Martinez and Sefe both hit .429 on the day, each having a double and going yard. Sefe hit two homers, one in each game.
• Chavez made two appearances for a total of 7.0 innings on the day. She made her first collegiate start and got the victory against Southern Utah only allowing one run, one hit and sitting down five Thunderbirds.
• Sherwood pitched 5.0 innings against the Bulls and struck out three in her first collegiate victory.

 
UP NEXT: The Rebels will play two more games on day two of the UNLV Desert Classic first facing No. 23 Oregon at 3 p.m., following that, UNLV will play Buffalo at 6 p.m.