UNLV’s Mountain West tournament run ended Friday with a 5-0 loss to New Mexico at Christina M. Hixson Softball Park in Reno.
The Rebels finished the season 31-22 after being held to three hits in the elimination game. New Mexico moved to 28-26 and advanced to play again Friday night.
Gabrielle Briones set the tone for the Lobos with a solo home run to deep left in the first inning. Melanie Macias followed with another solo shot in the second, giving New Mexico a 2-0 lead before UNLV could settle in.
Chances disappear
UNLV had a chance right away after Bri Williams reached on an error to open the bottom of the first. Gwyn Burnett pinch ran, stole second and moved to third on Natalie Turner’s groundout, but the Rebels could not bring her home.
That became the theme.
Presley Barnes doubled in the fifth and seventh, while Turner singled and stole second in the sixth. Each time, New Mexico starter Caitlin Benningfield kept the Rebels off the board.
Benningfield threw a complete-game shutout, allowing three hits with one walk, one hit batter and three strikeouts. She needed 87 pitches and leaned on contact, recording 16 groundouts.
Errors add on
New Mexico added an unearned run in the fifth when Briana Williams singled home Macias after a UNLV error extended the inning.
The Lobos stretched it to 5-0 in the sixth. Hayden Luderer tripled down the right-field line, scoring Allie Williams and Grace Rana after two more UNLV errors helped set the table.
Only two of New Mexico’s five runs were earned.
Yanina Sherwood took the loss for UNLV, allowing two runs on three hits in 2.1 innings. Lauren Fettic worked the final 4.2 innings and gave up three unearned runs on three hits while striking out six.
Season closes
Barnes led UNLV at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two doubles. Turner had the Rebels’ other hit, and Diamond Sefe reached on a walk and a hit by pitch.
The loss closed a season that included a 31-win finish, a No. 2 seed in the Mountain West tournament, a regular-season-ending sweep of Nevada and major conference honors for the Rebels.
Dice City Sports will have a full UNLV softball season recap this week.
Thank you to UNLV softball for a memorable season. See you next spring.
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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.
