UNLV split its Saturday doubleheader at the Red & Black Classic, opening with a 3-1 win over Loyola Marymount before falling 14-7 to North Dakota State at Eller Media Stadium.
The split moved the Rebels to 12-12 on the season. UNLV got a complete-game gem from Lauren Fettic in the opener, then could not overcome a rough defensive stretch in the nightcap against the Bison.
Fettic sets the tone
The first game belonged to Fettic.
The right-hander went the distance against LMU, allowing one run on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts in seven innings. She kept the Lions off balance all afternoon and finished with 12 ground-ball outs in a steady, efficient outing.
LMU scratched across its only run in the third, but UNLV answered right back in the bottom half.
Taryn Calderon started the rally with a single, Rachel Cook followed with a hit through the left side, and Keyannah Chavez lined an RBI single to right to tie it at 1-1. Chavez finished 3-for-4 in the opener and sparked the offense from the top half of the lineup.
UNLV grabbed the lead for good in the fourth. Natalie Turner dropped down a bunt single, stole second and scored when Mantha Hatzenbeller ripped a double down the left-field line. The Rebels added an insurance run in the fifth when Gwyn Burnett swiped third, Maddie Scott stole second, and Diamond Sefe drove Burnett home with a single to right-center.
That was enough for Fettic, who closed the door over the final two innings and improved to 5-4.
Nightcap flips fast
The second game started well for UNLV before turning hard in the middle innings.
The Rebels scored three times in the second when Sefe and Lyla Gonzalez reached ahead of Calderon, who drilled a three-run double to right-center for an early 3-0 lead. Calderon finished 3-for-5 with four RBI and added a solo homer in the seventh.
North Dakota State answered with four runs in the fourth, taking advantage of defensive miscues to erase the deficit and move in front 4-3. The Bison kept pressing from there, scoring two in the fifth, four in the sixth and four more in the seventh.
UNLV committed six errors in the loss, and only 10 of North Dakota State’s 14 runs were earned. That proved too much to overcome despite a productive day at the plate.
Cook helped the Rebels push back in the sixth with a two-run homer to left that cut the margin to 10-5. Later in the inning, Chavez doubled and Bri Williams singled before Charelle Aki punched an RBI single to right to make it 10-6. Calderon’s solo shot in the seventh capped the scoring.
Chavez stayed hot in the nightcap, going 3-for-4 with three doubles across the two games on Saturday. Turner added a 2-for-3 line against the Bison, while Aki reached base three times and drove in a run.
Numbers that mattered
UNLV pounded out 11 hits in the opener and 13 more in the second game, but the difference Saturday was clean execution. The Rebels played sharp defense behind Fettic in game one, then gave away too many extra chances in game two.
Calderon led the way offensively across the split, going 5-for-9 with a double, a homer and four RBI. Chavez also had a big day, finishing 6-for-8 with three doubles and an RBI. Turner went 4-for-6 and scored once.
Up next
UNLV closes the Red & Black Classic on Sunday against LMU. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. PT at Eller Media Stadium, with the game streamed on YouTube.
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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.
