PHOENIX, Ariz. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team split for the second day in a row on the final day of the Purple Classic hosted by Grand Canyon at GCU Softball Stadium. The Rebels (15-9) defeated Penn (1-10) 9-2 in the first game of the day, but came up short, 3-1, against the Lopes (20-3).
 
The Rebels scored in six out of the seven innings played against the Quakers. UNLV was held scoreless until the seventh inning against GCU. Jesse Farrell led the Scarlet & Gray at the plate batting a combined .429 (3-for-7) on the day including a double and an RBI. Farrell also had a slugging percentage of .571 and an on-base percentage of .429. Jazmine Chavez collected the win against the Quakers for her third victory of the season.
 
GAME 1: UNLV 9, PENN 2
 
With one out in the top of the first inning, Ariana Martinez drew a seven-pitch walk to give UNLV a base runner. Following the second out, Diamond Sefe sent the first strike she saw down the left field line for a double, bringing Martinez home to make it 1-0. UNLV then retired Penn in the bottom half of the first after they had a leadoff walk. In the top of the second, the Rebels tallied two more runs on two hits and made it 3-0. Karmyna Becerra led things off in the top of the third, after being hit by a pitch. The Quakers then had a pitching change and collected the first out. On a passed ball by the Penn pitcher, Becerra moved to second. Jesse Farrell then singled to center, moving Becerra to third, giving UNLV runners on the corners. The Rebels were caught stealing, however on the throw Becerra scored to put the Scarlet & Gray ahead 4-0. In the top of the fourth, UNLV added two more runs to its lead going up 6-0 with three innings left to play. Penn was able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run to left and a single to left field and made it 6-2. In the top of the fifth, the Rebels' bats continued as they scored two more runs on three hits to make it 8-2. UNLV retired Penn in the bottom of the fifth in order. The Scarlet & Gray put up another run in the top of the sixth on a double by Farrell and made it 9-2. The next inning was scoreless and as the Quakers wanted to get things going in the bottom of the seventh, Penn was retired in order by UNLV and the Rebels collected the win.
 
GAME 2: UNLV 1, GCU 3
 
The Lopes jumped out front in the bottom of the first inning scoring two runs to go up 2-0. In the bottom of the third inning, GCU took advantage of an error and scored another to make it 3-0. The next three innings were scoreless for both sides, until the Rebels got on the board in the top of the seventh thanks to a rocket of a home run over the right field wall by Ariana Martinez, 3-1. UNLV was then retired in order for three straight outs.
 
OTHER NOTES:

• Farrell tied her career-high in hits going 3-for-4 against Penn. She also had an RBI and scored one run.
• Sofia Morales was 3-for-5 against the Quakers and led the squad with three RBI.
• Martinez and Brooke Pisciotta each had a hit against GCU.
• The Rebels out-hit their opponents 13-11.
• For the weekend, Sofia Morales batted a combined .389 (7-for-18) including four RBI.
• Farrell batted a combined .308 for the Rebels through the weekend and also had four RBI.
• Yanina Sherwood went 1-1 for the weekend through four appearances. She pitched 17.0 total innings and had a 1.24 ERA. Sherwood led the pitching staff with nine combined strikeouts.
• Jazmine Chavez went 1-0 in her only appearance for the weekend and had a 2.80 ERA and threw five innings.

 
UP NEXT: UNLV will open Mountain West play on the road visiting Colorado State for a three-game series beginning Friday, March 14 and concluding on Sunday, March 16. All games will be streamed on the MW Network.