The Rebels (5-1) led by two runs heading into the final frame, when Weber State (5-2) rallied to score four in the top half of the seventh inning to take the lead by two.
UNLV managed to get a run across in the home half but was ultimately unable to produce anything further offensively.
“We weren’t planning on going undefeated,” head coach Kristie Fox said. “That just doesn’t happen when you play as many games as [we] do in softball. The biggest thing is that we learn lessons from today.”
Weber State jumped ahead in the third inning with a two-out, two-run single by Faith Hoe, after a trio of walks loaded the bases for the Wildcats.
Samantha Diaz got the scoring started for the Rebels in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI-double to right-center field, plating pinch-runner Sofia Morales.
Lauren Barker then traded places with Diaz with an RBI- double of her own down the right field line, tying the game at 2-2.
Barker continued her hot night at the plate the following inning, driving a two-run single to left field to give UNLV a two-run lead.
“Coach Fox and I worked a lot this week on my swing,” Barker said. “I was feeling confident going into the game, and luckily it worked out for me. This is [also] my first time wearing this hair (tiered ponytail), and it did pretty good for me today so I’m going to have to carry it over tomorrow.”
Unfortunately for the Rebels, Weber State would piece together a four-run seventh inning with a combination of singles and walks, with the go-ahead run scoring on a bases-loaded walk.
Freshman-phenom Ariana Martinez delivered a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to draw the game closer at 6-5. The Rebel rally stopped there.
Much of the damage against the Rebels was regrettably self-inflicted, as the typically-dominant pitching tandem of Jenny Bressler and Jasmine Martin combined to walk seven Wildcats, three of which would come around to score.
“We left way too many runners on-base, too many strikeouts against that kind of pitching,” Fox said. “And too many walks to their batters.
“We have three aspects to our game that are really important,” Fox continued. “Our pitchers have to make the other team earn it, we have to take advantage of our opportunities [offensively] putting the ball in play, and defensively we have to have [our pitcher’s] back. We made great plays today, but we can’t defend walks. Our pitchers should have been more comfortable with more run support, but we just left too many [runners] on.”
The Rebels will face Weber State once more in the first half of their Saturday double header. The nightcap will feature a matchup against the Kangaroos of Missouri-Kansas City (1-5).
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