The UNLV softball team opened the 2026 season Thursday night with a tough welcome from California Baptist, falling 8-0 in five innings at Eller Media Stadium in the opener of the UNLV Leadoff Classic.
The Lancers scored eight runs across the first two innings and right-hander Miranda De N did the rest, striking out eight and keeping UNLV off the board as the Rebels debuted a wave of new faces in game 1.
Early avalanche sets the tone
California Baptist jumped out fast in the top of the first, stringing together four hits to grab a 3-0 lead. Victoria Mac put the first damage on the scoreboard with a two-run single to shallow left, then Malachy Russ followed with an RBI single to push the lead to three.
The second inning decided it.
The Lancers plated five more runs on four hits and capitalized on two UNLV errors to open up an 8-0 cushion. Kenzie Farri knocked in a run with a single, Sydney Peter added a two-run single to center and Russ lifted a sacrifice fly that brought home another. An error in right field on the play helped two unearned runs score in the inning, and UNLV was suddenly chasing a deficit that never shrank.
A quiet middle, then a last push
After the early burst, the game settled. UNLV’s bullpen steadied the pace, and both offenses went mostly quiet for the next inning and a half.
UNLV’s best look came in the bottom of the third. Freshman Lyla Gonzalez doubled to left-center and graduate transfer Natalie Turner followed with a single to put runners at the corners, but the Rebels were erased on a double play to end the threat.
The final chance arrived in the fifth. Maggie Vasa doubled to lead off the inning, then Presley Barnes singled to give UNLV two baserunners with one out. Turner popped up for the second out, and Keyannah Chavez flied out to the left side to end it with runners stranded.
Numbers that mattered
De N tossed a five-inning shutout for California Baptist, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out eight on 80 pitches.
UNLV finished with four hits from Barnes, Gonzalez, Turner and Vasa, with Gonzalez and Vasa each doubling. Chavez and Bri Williams drew the Rebels’ two walks.
In the circle, Yanina Sherwood took the loss after allowing six runs in 1.1 innings. Raegen Everett worked 2.2 innings of relief and allowed two unearned runs on one hit, and she recorded her first strikeout in a UNLV uniform. Emma Wardlaw closed the night with a clean fifth inning on five pitches.
UNLV also saw eight players make their debut in a Rebels uniform in the season opener.
Up next
UNLV continues the UNLV Leadoff Classic tonight, Friday, Feb. 6, hosting UIC at 6 p.m. PT at Eller Media Stadium.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
