The University of Nevada, Las Vegas softball team lost 13-6 to the University of Nevada, Reno on May 7 in their opening game of the Mountain West Championships at Christina M. Hixson Softball Park.
This matchup was part of the Silver State Series presented by America First Credit Union. The Rebels held a 4-2 lead after three innings, but the Wolf Pack took control with a five-run fourth inning and added two more three-run innings later in the game.
Natalie Turner reached base every time she came up to bat, going 2-for-2 with a walk and hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning. Presley Barnes and Mantha Hatzenbeller each went 2-for-4; Hatzenbeller hit her twelfth home run of the season while Barnes drove in one run. Lyla Gonzalez was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and one walk for UNLV.
The scoring began when UNR took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI double. Bri Williams responded for UNLV with a double that brought in two runs. The teams traded leads until UNR broke out for five runs in the fourth inning, taking a lead they would not give up. Diamond Sefe drove in another run for UNLV during that frame. In later innings, Turner homered again for UNLV but it was not enough as Reno added insurance runs.
Additional notes from the game include Williams being hit by a pitch—putting her one away from tying the program record—and Charelle Aki recording a single. Barnes extended her hitting streak to four games and has now reached base safely in six straight games, while Keyannah Chavez drew a walk to extend her own reached-base streak to twenty-three games.
UNLV is scheduled to play New Mexico next on Friday, May 8 at Christina M. Hixson Softball Park.
