The UNLV softball team opened its three-game set against San Diego State with a comeback Friday night, erasing a two-run deficit in the sixth inning for a 4-3 win at Eller Media Stadium during Alumni Weekend.
Rachel Cook delivered the biggest swing of the night for UNLV, ripping a bases-clearing triple to right with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead. The Rebels moved back to .500 at 15-15 overall and 2-2 in Mountain West play.
San Diego State grabbed the first run in the third when Jade Ignacio reached on an infield single and Ally Dueker came home on a throwing error. The Aztecs carried that 1-0 lead until the fourth, when Charelle Aki tied it with a solo homer to left.
That shot gave the Scarlet and Gray life, but SDSU answered in the sixth. Angie Yellen lined an RBI single up the middle, then Kaila Pollard followed with another run-scoring single to left that pushed the Aztecs back in front, 3-1.
UNLV did not flinch.
Sixth-inning thunder
Keyannah Chavez opened the bottom of the sixth with a single and Maddie Scott took over as a pinch runner. After Aki popped out, Diamond Sefe drew a walk to put two on. Taryn Calderon struck out for the second out of the inning, leaving the Rebels down to their last chance to break through.
Mantha Hatzenbeller then worked a walk to load the bases.
That brought up Cook, who had already doubled earlier in the game. On an 0-2 pitch, she sent a triple into right field, clearing the bases as Scott, Sefe and Hatzenbeller all scored. In one swing, UNLV had its first lead of the night.
Cook finished 2-for-2 with a double, triple, walk and three RBI. Aki added her eighth home run of the season, while Hatzenbeller reached base twice with a double and a walk. Chavez and Natalie Turner also chipped in one hit apiece.
Arms hold the line
Yanina Sherwood kept the Rebels in the game with 5.2 innings of work, allowing five hits and three runs, two earned, with two walks and two strikeouts.
Lauren Fettic took over in the sixth and shut the door. The freshman tossed the final 1.1 innings, allowing two hits and no runs to improve to 7-6.
San Diego State put the tying run on base to start the seventh when Emma French singled up the middle. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, Fettic retired Ignacio on a popout to third and got Quinn Waiki on a grounder back through the middle that Lyla Gonzalez turned into the final out at first.
UNLV managed only six hits, one fewer than San Diego State, but made the biggest one count.
Alumni Weekend answer
The Rebels spent most of the night chasing. Then Cook cooked.
UNLV now has a chance to secure the series on Saturday after stealing the opener with its late rally.
Up next
UNLV continues its home series against San Diego State on Saturday 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.
