REBELS HOST FRESNO STATE FOR SECOND WEEKEND OF MW PLAY
UNLV and Fresno State will play a three-game series beginning Friday, March 21 and concluding Sunday, March 23
The UNLV softball team are finally back home and will begin a seven-game homestand first hosting Fresno State for a three-game Mountain West series beginning on Friday, March 21 and concluding on Sunday, March 23.
SCHEDULE:
Friday, March 21 – Fresno State at UNLV at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 22 – Fresno State at UNLV at 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 23 – Fresno State at UNLV at 12:00 p.m.
UNLV vs. FRESNO STATE
All-time vs. Fresno STATE: 26-62
Streak: Loss 2
Last meeting: Last season, Fresno State took the series 2-1 in Fresno, however the Rebels earned the win in game one, but the Bulldogs won game two and three.
BROADCAST INFO: All Mountain West series will be streamed on theMW.com/watch. Links to the stream and live stats links can be found on UNLVrebels.com
SERIES PROMOTIONS: Fans in attendance will receive a 2025 UNLV softball schedule poster all weekend. Additionally, there will be a rally towel giveaway all weekend, while supplies last. The concession stand will offer $5 beers on Friday ONLY.The Rebels will have post game autographs following the conclusion of every game.
TICKETS: Tickets are on sale now for the 2025 UNLV softball season. Season tickets are $50 for adults, $40 for seniors, faculty and staff, and alumni. Single-game tickets are $6 in advance and at the game $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, faculty and staff.Kids under 12, Nevada High School students with their high school ID, UNLV students are free at all home contests.
NEXT UP: UNLV will continue the homestand and play a midweek non-conference game on Tuesday, March 25 against Utah Tech at 3 p.m.
LAST TIME ON THE FIELD: The Rebels played a midweek non-conference contest on Tuesday, March 18 against Arizona State and fell 4-1. Karmyna Becerra and Charelle Aki each had hits against the Sun Devils, while Becerra had the squads only RBI.
SCOUTING FRESNO STATE: UNLV is 26-62 all-time against Fresno State. In last season’s three-game series, the Bulldogs collected the series victory 2-1. Fresno State heads into the weekend with a 17-9 overall record and are 3-0 in MW play. The Bulldogs are led by Kennedy Bunker’s .408 batting average and she is second on the squad in RBI with 21. Lauren Almeida leads Fresno State in slugging percentage (.631), RBI (24) and home runs (five). In the circle, Serayah Neiss leads the pitching staff with a 2.10 ERA and a 7-3 record through 19 appearances. Neiss has pitched 73.1 innings and has only allowed opponents to bat .256.
QUEEN OF RBI: Senior infielder Ariana Martinez became the new program leader for career RBI with 184 and counting. As she headed into the UCSB Tournament, she was only three RBI away from the top and in just the second game of opening day of the tournament, she hit a two-run home run against Creighton to take over as the career RBI leader.
350 CAREER WINS: Head coach Kristie Fox collected her 350th career win on Feb. 14, 2025 in the 4-3 victory over Idaho State in the opening game of the UNLV Rebel Classic. Fox currently has an overall head coaching record of 362-264 and an UNLV head coach recording of 228-127. Fox collected her 200th win at the helm of the Rebels last season on March 28, 2024 in the 7-3 victory over Utah State.
LAST YEAR: The Rebels had an overall record of 31-19 including a 14-8 MW record and a trip to the MW Championships. Maddie Scmidt was named MW Defensive Player of the Year. Ariana Martinez picked up All-MW first team honors and Schmidt and Ellie Zellien garnered All-MW second team honors.
MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON: UNLV is predicted to finish fourth in the Mountain West this season. The whole list is as follows: 1. San Diego State; 2. Fresno State; 3. Boise State; 4. UNLV; 5. Nevada; 6. Colorado State; 7. Utah State; 8. New Mexico; 9. San Jose State.
Senior Ariana Martinez and sophomore Jesse Farrell were named to the preseason All-MW team.
REBELS’ SQUAD: UNLV returns 6 letterwinners, including three position starters. All-Mountain West and NFCA All-West selection Ariana Martinez returns along with NFCA All-West recipient Jesse Farrell and Sofia Morales. Charelle Aki, Kailani Olivas and Bri Willams also return to the Rebels this season. UNLV welcomes 15 newcomers to the squad which include: freshmen Gwyn Burnett, Jazmine Chavez, Mantha Hatzenbeller, Kamryn Messick and Yanina Sherwood; sophomores: Ellie Bostedt, Bri Hamilton, Brooke Pisciotta and Sage Vandemark; juniors: Maddie Scott, Diamond Sefe, Maggie Vasa and Amelia Weber; senior Karmyna Becerra and graduate student Destinee Noury.
The Rebels bring back three of the top-five hitters from last season which includes Martinez, Farrell and Morales. Martinez led the squad with a .396 batting average, and posted team-highs in doubles (15), RBI (51), slugging percentage (.708) and on-base percentage (503). Farrell hit .359 with 12 doubles and a team-high 11 home runs. Farrell also had 46 RBI and the second-highest slugging percentage with a .683. Morales started all 50 games last season and batted a .350 with three doubles and two triples. Morales also had 19 RBI.