Steve Puterski / LVN Photo
RENO – In a game that went down to the wire, the University of Nevada softball team fell 5-3 to UNLV on Sunday, giving the Rebels three points in the Governor’s Series presented by NV Energy.
With the loss in Mountain West play, the Wolf Pack fell to 29-21 (8-7 MW), while UNLV improved to 20-26 (6-6 MW). The Rebels won the Governor’s Series points by winning two of the three games contested during the weekend series.
UNLV smacked the Wolf Pack, 13-2, on Friday, while Nevada rebounded with a 5-4 extra-inning victory on Saturday.
Nevada will be off next week, closing out the regular season with the games at Boise State from May 9-11.
The Pack leveled Sunday’s game late with a big hit, but was unable to hold UNLV off in the final inning. Two runs from the Rebels in the seventh proved to be enough for the team from southern Nevada to get the win.
Ashley Butera hit her seventh home run of the year with Nevada down 3-2 in the sixth. The solo shot tied the game and came with nobody out in the inning. With runners at second and third later in the frame, Jasmine Jenkins was picked off third base to end the threat, and the teams went to the seventh tied at three.
UNLV’s runs in the seventh came on a triple by Katie Uriartie. The ball found the right-center field gap and came with two strikes, one pitch after a ball just off the outside corner from Karlyn Jones.
Megan Dortch started the game for Nevada and Jones came into the game in the fifth in relief. Jones was tagged with the loss, giving up three earned in three innings pitched. The Nevada staff combined to strike out five Rebel hitters.
Nevada scored twice in the first on a Butera single, as she dropped a ball into right field with runners at second and third. She finished the game 3-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI. Former Fallon star Sara Parsons had two hits, including her 14th double of the season.
Lauren Lastrapes, who walked to begin the eighth inning, scored on a sacrifice fly from Megan Sweet to end the contest. With one out in what would be the final inning of the game, Nevada cashed in on a bases-loaded opportunity when Sweet lifted a pitch to shallow center. Lastrapes alertly took off for home and slid head first under the tag of catcher Emily Haslinger.
Notes: Erin Jones tied the single-season school records for doubles with 18. … Karley Hopkins leads to club with a .387 average. … On Saturday, Karlyn Jones did not allow a walk for the 16th game this year.