RENO, Nev. (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team fell 13-6 to in-state rival UNR on Thursday evening at Christina M. Hixson Softball Park in the Scarlet & Gray's first game of the Mountain West Championships. This game is part of the Silver State Series presented by America First Credit Union.
Â
The Rebels (31-21) held a 4-2 lead after the first three innings of play, but the Wolf Pack (38-18) went ahead in the top of the fourth inning after scoring five runs. UNLV was able to cut the lead two in the bottom half of the fourth, but two more three run innings for UNR kept them ahead.
Natalie Turner reached in every at-bat on the night going 2-for-2 including a walk and a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Presley Barnes and
Mantha Hatzenbeller each were 2-for-4 against UNR. Hatzenbeller hit her 12th homer of the season. Barnes also had an RBI on the night.
Lyla Gonzalez was 1-for-2 against the Wolf Pack, crossed the plate twice for UNLV and had one walk.
Â
HOW IT WENT DOWN: The first inning was scoreless on both sides, until UNR took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on an RBI double. However, UNLV countered and scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a double to left by
Bri Williams, 2-1. The Wolf Pack tied the game, 2-all, in the top of the third inning, but the Rebels took back the lead in the bottom of the third.
Presley Barnes had an RBI single and
Mantha Hatzenbeller smacked a solo homer over center, 4-2. In the top of the fourth inning, UNR scored five runs on four hits and a UNLV error to take a 7-4 lead. In the bottom half of the fourth, the Rebels cut the deficit to two after
Diamond Sefe brought a run in with bases loaded, 7-5. In the top of the sixth inning, the Wolf Pack scored three runs on three hits and made it 10-5. In the bottom of the sixth, the Rebels got within four after a solo homer by
Natalie Turner over the left field wall, 10-6. The Wolf Pack tallied three runs on four hits in the top of the seventh inning and made it 13-6. The Rebels were unfortunately retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Â
OTHER NOTES:
- Bri Williams had a double and was hit by a pitch. She is now only one hit by pitch away from tying the program record.
- Charelle Aki had a single on the night.
- Barnes is now on a four-game hitting streak and a six-game reached base streak.
- Keyannah Chavez drew a walk and is now on a 23-game reached base streak.
UP NEXT: UNLV will play New Mexico on Friday, May 8 at 3 p.m. at Christina M. Hixson Softball Park.
Â
