LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team battled it out again with Boise State, but fell 10-8 in eight innings in the series finale on Saturday afternoon at Eller Media Stadium.
 
The Rebels (18-17, 2-7 MW) tied the game 8-all against the Broncos (25-11, 4-5 MW) with a Karmyna Becerra grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning and shut down Boise State in the top of the seventh inning to force an extra inning of play. Becerra led the squad offensively going 3-for-4 with a career-high five RBI. Becerra smacked two home runs and had the squad's only double of the day.
 
HOW IT WENT DOWN: UNLV jumped out front first in the bottom of the first inning on an Ariana Martinez solo home run over center, 1-0. Boise State countered in the top of the second with a two-run home run to take a 2-1 lead. In the bottom half of the second, UNLV went back on top scoring two runs on two hits, 3-2. The Broncos tied the game in the top of the third inning, 3-all. In the top of the fourth inning, Boise State went ahead scoring five runs on four hits, 8-3. Karmyna Becerra cut the deficit to four, 8-4, in the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo home run. The Rebels held the Broncos off the score board in the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom half of the sixth, UNLV loaded the bases on two infield singles and a walk. Becerra then came back to the plate and with a 1-1 count, she sent a moonshot of a ball over the left field wall for a grand slam to tie the game 8-all. In the top of the seventh, the Scarlet & Gray retired Boise State in order. The Rebels were unable to get a two-out rally going in the bottom half of the seventh. In the top of the eighth inning, Boise State scored two runs on a single up the middle to take a 10-8 lead. In the bottom half of the eighth, UNLV was retired in order.
 
OTHER NOTES:

• Sofia Morales was 2-for-4 on the day and scored a run for UNLV. Morales has now reached base in five straight games.
• Maddie Scott and Maggie Vasa each went 2-for-3 against the Broncos. Both scored a run for the Rebels, while Vasa had a RBI.
• Martinez tallied one hit on the day and scored two runs for the Rebels. She also had a walk. Martinez is now on a seven-game hitting and on-base streak.
• Brooke Pisciotta had a RBI against the Broncos.

 
UP NEXT: The Rebels will be on the road for the next Mountain West series, playing a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 2 against in-state rival UNR. The first game of the two will begin at 12 p.m. This series is part of the Silver State Series presented by America First.