FRESNO, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team defeated Fresno State 5-3 in the series finale on Sunday at Margie Wright Diamond. The Rebels (18-17, 5-4) won the Mountain West series 2-1 over the Bulldogs (14-15, 3-6).
 
Keyannah Chavez and Diamond Sefe led the UNLV offense as Chavez was 2-for-3 and Sefe was 2-for-4. Chavez hit her second triple of the season and also scored a run for the Scarlet & Gray. Mantha Hatzenbeller and Taryn Calderon each went yard against Fresno State. Haztenbeller's home run was a two-run shot. Yanina Sherwood collected the win in relief for her sixth of the season. Lauren Fettic secured her first career save in the circle for the Rebels.
 
HOW IT WENT DOWN: Both squads were held off the board in the first inning. Diamond Sefe led off the top of the second inning with a single to left. She then stole second during Taryn Calderon's at-bat. Calderon put down a beautiful sacrifice bunt which allowed Sefe to go to third. Mantha Hatzenbeller then stepped to the plate and sent the second pitch she saw out over the left field fence to give UNLV a 2-0 lead. The Rebels were then retired for the next two outs. However, the Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the second inning with two runs on three hits to tie the game 2-all. In the top of the third inning with two outs, Chavez singled to left. Charelle Aki then drew a walk to give the Rebels runners on first and second. Sefe hit a sky-high fly ball to right that was muffed by the Bulldogs' fielder, but Chavez was able to score from second to give UNLV a 3-2 lead. In the top half of the fifth, Aki roped an RBI single to left center to increase the lead by two, 4-2. Fresno State answered again with an RBI single to center in the bottom of the fifth to get within one, 4-3. In the top of the sixth inning, Taryn Calderon went yard over the left field wall to give UNLV a 5-3 lead. The Rebels retired the Bulldogs in order in the bottom half of the seventh to hold onto the victory.
 
OTHER NOTES:

• Williams and Aki also had hits against the Bulldogs.
• Aki had an RBI and a walk.
• For the weekend, Chavez led the Rebels' offense with a combined .364 (4-for-11) including a triple and two RBI. She additionally had a combined .545 slugging percentage.
• Williams and Aki each batted a combined .333 for the weekend against the Bulldogs.
• Fettic collected a win and a save in the three-game series against Fresno State.
• Sherwood collected the team's second win in the three-game series.
• Chavez is now on a six-game hitting streak.
• Williams has now reached base in 23 straight games.
• Aki and Turner are now on 10-game reached base streaks. 

UP NEXT: The Scarlet & Gray will be back on home turf to host Colorado State for a three-game MW series on Thursday, April 2 - Saturday, April 4. The Rebels and Rams will open the series up on Thursday, April 2 at 6 p.m. at Eller Media Stadium.