The UNLV softball team hit the middle of its opening weekend Saturday and found out how thin the margins can be when the big innings disappear.
UNLV dropped both ends of a doubleheader at Eller Media Stadium, falling 4-1 to California Baptist in the afternoon before a 6-2 loss to Illinois-Chicago at night. The Rebels got strong stretches in the circle in each game. However, a mix of missed chances, defensive miscues and quiet bats kept UNLV from building on Friday’s breakout win.
Afternoon grind turns on mistakes
UNLV’s first game turned into a low-scoring chess match, and the Rebels never found an offensive rhythm. UNLV managed just one hit in the 4-1 loss and struck out nine times, leaving little room for error.
California Baptist scored first with an RBI bunt single in the second. UNLV settled in after that, and Emma Wardlaw delivered a steady start. Wardlaw worked 4.2 innings and allowed three runs, but only one earned, on eight hits with one strikeout.
Still, the fourth inning swung the game. Two UNLV errors in the frame led directly to two unearned runs, pushing the deficit to 3-0 and forcing UNLV to chase the game.
UNLV finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Maggie Vasa came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Rachel Cook, cutting it to 3-1.
That was the Rebels’ only run. California Baptist added an insurance run in the seventh, and UNLV could not generate a late push.
Offensively, Taryn Calderon had UNLV’s lone hit, a single. Charelle Aki also reached with a walk, and UNLV drew three total walks, but the Rebels left six on base and could not string anything together.
In relief, Lauren Fettic worked 2.0 innings and allowed one run. Amelia Weber struck out one in a brief seventh-inning appearance.
Nightcap shows promise, then slips away
UNLV’s second game offered more traffic and more hard contact. The Rebels matched Illinois-Chicago with seven hits.
However, the story of the 6-2 loss was how quickly things unraveled in one inning.
UNLV fell behind early on an RBI groundout in the first and a solo home run in the second. The Rebels answered in the bottom of the second when Diamond Sefe crushed a solo homer to deep left to make it 2-1.
UNLV had chances to climb back in. Camryn Johnson doubled in the second to put runners in scoring position, and the Rebels continued to put the ball in play.
Still, the fifth inning decided it. A three-run UIC frame was fueled by UNLV defensive errors, turning a one-run game into a 5-1 deficit. UNLV did respond in the bottom half when Aki doubled to left to drive in Natalie Turner, trimming it to 5-2.
That was as close as it got. Illinois-Chicago added a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly, and UNLV went scoreless the rest of the way.
Aki led UNLV at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Sefe finished 2-for-2 with a home run and a walk, while Johnson added a double and Cook chipped in a single.
In the circle, Yanina Sherwood worked 4.0 innings and allowed two earned runs. Sophie Stockam handled the fifth and was charged with four runs, two earned, and Raegen Everett steadied things late with 2.0 scoreless innings and a strikeout.
The other tough number for UNLV was the margin on clean execution. The Rebels committed four errors and hit into three double plays, which erased chances to extend innings.
Up next
UNLV closes the UNLV Leadoff Classic on Sunday, Feb. 8, hosting Purdue at 12 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.
