MORAGA, Calif. – The University of Nevada softball team split its season-opening doubleheader against Saint Mary's on Thursday. Nevada won the first game, 6-2, thanks to dominating performances by Kendall Fritz, Chelie Senini and Haley Burda. The Pack fell to the Gaels in game two, 2-1, on a walk-off single to center.

GAME 1

Freshman Chelie Senini powered Nevada's offense, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. The last time Senini recorded three hits was against Saint Mary's on Feb. 21, 2020. Senior Haley Burda also propelled the Pack offense, going 2-for-4 and tying her career-high in RBIs with four. Juniors Lauren Gutierrez and Ashley Salausa also chipped in, going 2-for-4. Sophomore Kendall Fritz anchored Nevada's defense, recording 11 strikeouts and giving up only three hits.

How It Happened

Burda's two-RBI single to right in the second gave Nevada an early 2-0 lead. Later in the second, Senini's RBI single to short scored Burda from third.

The Gaels cut Nevada's lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth, but the Pack answered back in the fifth. Burda's two-RBI single scored Gutierrez and Salausa, extending Nevada's lead to 5-2. Senini pushed the Pack's lead to 6-2 on an RBI single to right.

GAME 2

Despite freshman Blake Craft's dominant performance on the mound, Nevada fell short in the second game. Craft tallied seven strikeouts through 6.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Chelie Senini and Sadaria McAlister collected Nevada's only two hits.

How It Happened

Nevada got on the board in the third on a McAlister RBI, plating Senini. The Pack held Saint Mary's scoreless until the seventh. Saint Mary's tied the game on a Nishihara single before Alaan launched a walk-off single to left center to end the game.

UP NEXT

The Pack travels to UC Davis on Friday for a doubleheader against the Aggies. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.