UNLV left Fresno with a series win Sunday afternoon, using two home runs and timely relief pitching to beat Fresno State 5-3 at Margie Wright Diamond.
The Rebels moved to 18-17 overall and 5-4 in Mountain West play with the rubber-match victory, taking two of three from the Bulldogs after dropping Friday’s opener.
Mantha Hatzenbeller delivered the first big swing. After Diamond Sefe opened the second with a single and stole second, Taryn Calderon moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. Hatzenbeller then drove a two-run homer to deep left to put the Scarlet and Gray in front 2-0.
Fresno State answered in the bottom half, but UNLV kept punching back.
Answers every time
The Bulldogs tied it at 2-2 in the second, yet the Rebels regained control in the third.
With two outs, Keyannah Chavez singled and Charelle Aki worked a walk. Sefe then reached on a right-field error that allowed Chavez to score from second, giving UNLV a 3-2 lead.
The middle of the order came through again in the fifth. Gwyn Burnett, running for Bri Williams, moved into scoring position on Natalie Turner’s sacrifice bunt, and Aki lined an RBI single to left center to make it 4-2.
Fresno State trimmed the margin back to one in the bottom of the fifth, but Calderon answered leading off the sixth with a solo homer to deep left. That insurance run proved to be the final cushion UNLV needed.
Circle steadies the finish
Yanina Sherwood picked up the win after entering in the second inning and helping settle the middle frames. Sherwood worked 2.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits.
Raegen Everett handled two key outs in the fifth before Lauren Fettic closed it down for her first save of the season. Fettic recorded the final 3.2 innings, allowing two runs while keeping Fresno State from getting even. She retired the Bulldogs in order in the seventh to seal it.
UNLV finished with eight hits. Chavez and Sefe each went 2-for-4, while Hatzenbeller drove in two runs with her home run. Calderon added the solo shot, and Aki chipped in an RBI single and a walk.
Fresno State outhit UNLV 10-8, but the Rebels were cleaner in the field and sharper in the biggest moments. That was the difference in a tight finale.
Series secured
After opening the weekend with a loss, the UNLV softball team bounced back with wins on Saturday and Sunday to claim the road series.
The Rebels return home next to host Colorado State in a three-game Mountain West set beginning Thursday, April 2 at 6 p.m. PT at Eller Media Stadium.
Up next
UNLV returns home to open a three-game Mountain West series against Colorado State on Thursday, April 2 at 6 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.
