LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team split day two of the Red & Black Classic on Saturday at Eller Media Stadium. The Rebels (12-12) earned a 3-1 victory over Loyola Marymount (17-7) in game one of the day, but fell 14-7 in game two against North Dakota State (13-10).
 
Senior Keyannah Chavez led the Scarlet & Gray at the plate hitting a combined .750 (6-for-8) on the day. Chavez had three doubles, an RBI and scored a run for UNLV. Graduate student Natalie Turner batted a combined .667 (4-for-6) which included two doubles and crossed the plate once. Freshman Taryn Calderon hit a .556 (5-for-9) through two games which included a double, home run and led the squad in RBI with four that all came in game two against the Bison and marked a career-high. Calderon also crossed the plate twice for UNLV. Freshman Lauren Fettic pitched her second complete game with five strikes in the victory against the Lions. Fettic collected her fifth win of the season.
 
GAME 1: UNLV 3, Loyola Marymount 1
 
After two scoreless innings, the Lions tallied a run in the top of the third 1-0. However, the Rebels answered in the bottom of the third as Keyannah Chavez hit an RBI single to right field tying the game 1-all. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Natalie Turner hit a bunt single with one out to give UNLV a runner on first. Turner then stole second, putting herself in scoring position. Mantha Hatzenbeller doubled down the left field line bringing Turner home and giving UNLV a 2-1 lead. The Rebels added another run in the bottom half of the fifth on a Diamond Sefe RBI single to right center, 3-1. UNLV then retired LMU in three straight outs in the top of the sixth and the top of the seventh inning to secure the victory.
 
GAME 2: UNLV 7, North Dakota State 14
 
UNLV scored first in the bottom of the second inning, collecting three runs on a bases-clearing double by Taryn Calderon, 3-0. The Bison took the lead in the top of the fourth inning scoring four runs on four hits and took advantage of two Rebels' errors, 4-3. In the top of the fifth inning, North Dakota State added two more runs on a solo home run and a UNLV error, to go ahead 6-3. The Bison grabbed four more runs on four hits to make it 10-3. In the bottom half of the sixth, Rachel Cook smacked a two-run homer to cut the deficit in half, 10-5. Charelle Aki then hit an RBI single to get the Rebels within four, 10-6. NDSU notched four more runs in the top of the seventh and made it 14-6. Calderon then roped a home run in the bottom half of the seventh to cut the deficit back in half, 14-7, with two outs. UNLV was retired on the final out with a pop up to the grass that was caught by the NDSU shortstop.
 
OTHER NOTES:

• Against the Lions, Rachel Cook, Diamond Sefe, and Mantha Hatzenbeller each recorded a hit.
• Charelle Aki was 1-for-2 including two walks and an RBI against the Bison.
• Cook, Bri Williams, Hatzenbeller and Lyla Gonzalez all had one hit against NDSU.
• Calderon and Cook both hit homers in game two.
• Aki and Calderon have now reached base in 17 straight games.
• Williams has extended her on base streak to 14 games.

 
UP NEXT: The Rebels will close out the Red & Black Classic on Sunday, March 8 at 12 p.m. against Loyola Marymount.