The UNLV softball team did not lean on another home run barrage Sunday afternoon. Instead, the Rebels kept creating traffic until Boise State finally gave way.
UNLV erased a fifth-inning deficit, then scored seven runs over the final two innings to beat Boise State 9-6 at Dona Larsen Park. The win completed a three-game sweep, stretched the Rebels’ winning streak to seven and secured their third straight series sweep.
UNLV is now 27-18 overall and 14-5 in Mountain West play.
Pressure builds, then breaks through
Diamond Sefe gave UNLV the early edge with a solo homer to center in the second. Boise State answered in the bottom half on Marissa Gonzalez’s solo shot to left-center, and the game stayed even until the fourth.
The Rebels moved back in front without an extra-base hit. Sefe singled, Charelle Aki walked and Presley Barnes added a base hit to load the bases. Mantha Hatzenbeller then drew a four-pitch walk, forcing in Sefe for a 2-1 lead.
Boise State flipped the score in the fifth. Hollie Farmer walked, and Jorja Crider followed with a two-run homer to center that pushed the Broncos ahead 3-2. The pressure shifted again, and UNLV needed a quick answer.
It came in the sixth.
Barnes opened the inning with a single, Hatzenbeller walked and Rachel Cook dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up. Lyla Gonzalez then walked to load the bases, and Bri Williams worked another walk to tie the game. After a strikeout, Keyannah Chavez lined a two-run single to right, and Sefe followed with an RBI single to center. In a matter of minutes, the Rebels had turned a one-run deficit into a 6-3 lead.
Not flashy, just relentless
Unlike Saturday’s homer-heavy win, UNLV built this one on traffic and timing. The Rebels finished with 13 hits, drew six walks and produced only one extra-base hit, Sefe’s solo homer. They simply kept forcing Boise State to defend full innings.
Sefe led the way, going 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Williams finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Chavez went 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBI. Barnes added two hits, Hatzenbeller scored twice and drove in one, and Gonzalez scored twice.
Boise State still had one more answer. Kaylee Vieira drilled a three-run double in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 6-6, but UNLV struck again in the seventh. Hatzenbeller singled, Cook and Gonzalez followed with hits, and Williams lined a two-run single through the right side. After Gwyn Burnett stole second and advanced on a passed ball, Chavez drew a walk that allowed Gonzalez to score the final run.
Fettic finishes it on her birthday
Yanina Sherwood worked 5.1 innings before Lauren Fettic took over in the sixth. Fettic finished the final 1.2 innings, earned the win to improve to 12-7 and did it on her birthday.
Boise State managed seven hits, but the Rebels kept answering every push. That has become the theme of this stretch, and it is why UNLV heads into next weekend with real momentum.
Up next
UNLV heads to Grand Canyon (43-5 and 16-2) for a three-game Mountain West series that opens Friday at 7 p.m. PT.
Related stories
UNLV softball beats Boise State 10-6 as Hatzenbeller hits two homers
UNLV softball wins 6-5 at Boise State as Fettic goes the distance
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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.
