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REBELS CLOSE OUT 5-0 WEEKEND AT FROST CLASSIC

February 24, 2020 The Editor 322 Views rebels, Softball, sports, UNLV

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Box Score: vs. SIUE

UNLV beats SIUE 9-4 Sunday morning to complete undefeated weekend at UT Chattanooga’s Frost Classic

CHATTANOOGA, TN (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV softball team (12-4) completed a perfect 5-0 weekend with a 9-4 win over SIUE Sunday morning at UT Chattanooga’s Frost Classic. It was the fifth straight win for the Rebels, who have won 10 of their last 11 games after starting the season 2-3.

UNLV scored in the first inning for the third straight contest, putting up two runs for the early lead. The Rebels have dominated the first inning in 2020, outscoring opponents 28-3 in the opening frame. UNLV added three runs in the third, one in the fourth and after SIUE had cut the lead to 6-4 with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, the Rebels returned the favor with three runs in the top of the sixth to put the game away.

After a stretch of three games where the Rebel offense managed just two runs in 21 innings, it was the opposite story over the last three games as they tallied 28 runs on 33 hits. Leading the way at the plate was senior Justine Federe and freshman Maddie Schmidt, who has been stellar in her first collegiate season. The two combined to go 15-for-33 (.455) on the weekend with 11 RBI, 11 runs scored, nine walks, two doubles, a triple and of course Federe’s three-run game-winner in the epic comeback against UTC. In Sunday’s win alone, the two batted in five of the nine runs, scored three more runs and drew four walks.

The pitching staff was again solid at the tournament, registering a pair of shutouts over Miami (OH) and St. Francis and a one-run effort against St. Louis. Senior Charlie Masterson continue to impress, going 2-0 with a pair of saves to go along with zero runs allowed on just six hits in 10.2 innings pitched. Masterson was crucial in the UTC comeback as she got out of a bases-loaded jam in the half inning before UNLV stormed back, then entered on Sunday in the fifth to shut down the Cougars, who were trying to mount a rally of their own. Masterson is now 4-1 with a 0.49 ERA and has allowed just three runs, two earned, in 28.1 innings pitched in 2020.

Despite allowing 10 runs over the final two games, the pitching staff ERA still sits at a staggering 1.36 after three weekends of play.

UP NEXT: The Rebels return home to host their final home non-conference tournament, the Boyd Gaming Classic, February 28 – March 1. The three-day tournament features UNLV, UTEP, New Mexico State and Houston with the Rebels opening the weekend Friday, February 28 at 3 p.m. against UTEP.

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