Feb. 22, 2017 Games Notes 
RENO, Nev. - For the second time in program history, the Nevada Softball team will travel to Phoenix and compete in the GCU Tournament, hosted by Grand Canyon University. The Pack will be going up against three teams that are a combined 11-10 on the season.
GCU is 10-1 on the year, with its only loss on the years came against #23 Baylor. In its last matchup against Portland State in 2016, Nevada came out on top, winning the game, 4-2, courtesy of the Pack launching three home runs.
Last week at the De Marini Classic in Las Vegas, the Pack managed to win two of its three games on the weekend, after having two games rained out. Senior McKenna Isenberg led the way for Nevada, pitching two complete games to improve her record to 3-1 on the season.
In its two wins over UTEP and Southern Utah, Nevada scored a season-high six runs in each contest. Each win also saw at least two Pack players record two more hits. Knocking in three of the team's 12 runs scored, junior Erika Hansen was responsible for driving in 25 percent of the Pack's runs throughout the weekend.
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
The Pack welcomes seven freshmen to its 2017 roster, including a pitcher, two catchers, three infielders and an outfielder. Two of Nevada's freshmen, Kenzi Goins (Reed HS) and Sadaria McAlister (McQueen HS) are natives of the Reno community and will compete for time in the field. Goins and McAlister, along with Haley Burda, Mele Tausinga and Sierra Mello, have made important contributions to the Pack's first eight games, as they combined to make 32 appearances and 22 starts. At least two of Nevada's freshmen have started for the Pack in each of the team's first eight games.
McKKKKKKKKKKKKKKENNA
Isenberg recorded what turned out to be a career-night for her against Southerneastern Louisiana, where she posted a career-high 14 strikeouts in the Pack's 3-1 win over the Lions. Her previous career-high in a game was 11 strikeouts, which she had reached three times previously. Through five starts, Isenberg's 34 strikeouts on the season ranks first in the Mountain West, averaging nearly seven Ks per appearance in the circle.
