UNLV scores late to beat Nevada Wolf Pack softball

LAS VEGAS – The Nevada softball team put together a comeback bid on Saturday, but its effort was not enough as it fell to UNLV, 7-6.

The Wolf Pack (19-23, 8-11 MW) found itself down by four heading into the sixth and scored five to take a one-run lead but a two-run bottom of the inning from the Rebels (26-16, 8-9 MW) proved to be the difference in the game.

Nevada had a pair of players record multiple hits on the day as sophomores Sadaria McAlister and Jyllian Ahart both had two hits. Sophomore Sierra Mello scored three times in the game, falling one short of her career-high.

After the Rebels scored twice in the first inning, the Wolf Pack cut the lead in the half on a base hit from freshman Lauren Gutierrez that scored Mello.

UNLV had three unanswered runs over the next four innings to push the lead to 5-1 heading into the sixth.

Nevada’s five-run explosion began with Ahart singling up the middle for her second hit. Following an error that allowed freshman Jessica Sellers to reach base, Mello came up and recorded a single of her own to loaded the bases with one out.

Sophomore Haley Burda singled to right field to score Ahart. Junior Jennifer Purcell came off the bench and recorded a sacrifice fly and RBI for the Pack’s second run of the inning.

McAlister continued the rally with a single to centerfield, allowing Mello to cscore from second. Nevada then tied the game on a hit from sophomore Kenzi Goins that scored junior Ali Tedford, who pinch-ran for Burda.

Senior Erika Hansen reached on an error and McAlister scored to give Nevada a 6-5 advantage.

The teams play the series finale today at noon.