The Rebels opened the UNLV Rebel Classic with an 11-6 win over Valpo on Thursday night at Eller Media Stadium, using a five-run first inning and a three-run fifth to secure the victory.
UNLV (4-7) got two-hit nights from Taryn Calderon, Rachel Cook and Lyla Gonzalez, while Amelia Weber earned her first win of the season after coming out of the bullpen and working 3.2 innings.
Five spot, fast start
Valpo struck first in the top of the first, scoring twice to take an early 2-0 lead. The Rebels answered immediately. Calderon walked to start the bottom of the inning and later scored on Keyannah Chavez’s sacrifice fly. Charelle Aki followed with an RBI double to left field to tie the game, and Cook capped the inning with a three-run home run to put UNLV in front 5-2.
Calderon and company keep the foot down
UNLV added three more in the second to stretch the lead to 8-2. Gonzalez opened the inning with a single before Calderon launched a two-run homer to center. Later in the frame, Bri Williams drove in another run with a two-out RBI single.
Weber slams the door from the bullpen
Valpo pulled within three in the fourth with a three-run inning, but the Rebels responded again in the fifth. Cook delivered an RBI double and Gonzalez followed with a two-run single to make it 11-5. Valpo added one run in the sixth, and Weber finished the job to lock down the win and her first victory of the season.
Notes that matter
Cook finished 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and a career-high four RBI. Calderon went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, a walk and two runs scored, while Gonzalez was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. UNLV had nine different players score in the win. Chavez extended her on-base streak to seven games, Calderon pushed her hitting streak to four games, and Aki, Cook and Williams each extended their reached-base streak to five games.
Up next
The Rebels continue the Rebel Classic on Friday, Feb. 20, against Utah Valley at 3 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.
