UNLV snapped back in a big way Saturday at the ASU/GCU Invitational, rolling past Eastern Illinois 9-0 in six innings and then finishing the job with a 5-2 win over UC Riverside at GCU Softball Stadium. The two victories lifted the Rebels to 9-10 on the season.
Game 1: Power, Pace and a Six-Inning Shutout (UNLV 9, Eastern Illinois 0)
After two quiet innings, UNLV’s offense flipped the switch in the third.
Natalie Turner started it with a solo home run to left to break the scoreless tie. From there, the Rebels kept applying pressure. Lyla Gonzalez singled, Taryn Calderon moved the line along, and Rachel Cook laid down a sacrifice bunt to set the table. Keyannah Chavez then ripped a double to deep center to score two and make it 3-0.
UNLV added more thunder in the fifth. Cook led off with a solo homer to left, and moments later Bri Williams launched a two-run shot to left-center to stretch the lead to 6-0.
In the sixth, the Rebels turned traffic into insurance. Turner walked, stole second, and later scored on a fielding error. Soon after, Williams delivered again with a two-run single through the right side to push the margin to 9-0.
In the circle, Emma Wardlaw was in control from start to finish. She tossed a complete-game shutout, scattering five hits while walking two and striking out four.
Game 2: Fast Start Holds Up (UNLV 5, UC Riverside 2)
UNLV carried the momentum into the rematch with UC Riverside and made sure the early innings belonged to the Rebels.
In the first, Calderon worked a walk and moved into scoring position. After Cook advanced her, Chavez singled up the middle to bring Calderon home for a 1-0 lead.
The second inning was the difference. Turner drew a walk, and Gonzalez reached to keep the inning alive. Calderon then drove a double to left-center to plate two. Next, Chavez doubled to right to score Calderon, and Williams followed with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 5-0.
UC Riverside answered with a two-run double from Arianna Saldivar in the bottom of the second, trimming the lead to 5-2. However, UNLV’s pitching and defense slammed the door the rest of the way.
Wardlaw started and worked 1.2 innings before Yanina Sherwood took over in relief. Sherwood delivered 5.1 scoreless innings to earn the win, allowing four hits and striking out two without issuing a walk.
At the plate, Chavez finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Turner went 2-for-2 with a walk and scored once. Calderon added a two-RBI double as part of UNLV’s five-run surge in the second.
Up Next
UNLV closes the ASU/GCU Invitational on Sunday, March 1 against Wisconsin at 9 a.m. PT (10 a.m. MT) at Farrington Stadium in Tempe.
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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.
