RENO, Nev. – The Nevada softball team (22-15, 14-7 conf.) celebrated senior day in style on Sunday afternoon at Hixson Park, defeating rival UNLV, 6-5, to complete the series sweep over the Rebels. Graduating senior Julia Jensen (3-3) recorded the win in the circle for the Pack. Seniors Haley Burda, Kenzi Goins, Sierra Mello, Sadaria McAlister and Ashley Salausa combined for six hits to power Nevada's offense.
 
Jensen tossed 5.2 innings, striking out a season-high seven hitters and giving up four runs on six hits. Sophomore Kendall Fritz secured her fourth save of the season after throwing the last 1.1 innings. Fritz struck out one hitter and gave up one run on three hits.
 
Nevada saw offensive dynamite from Salausa, Lauren Gutierrez and Sam Oliver. Salausa and Gutierrez dominated all game, going 2-for-3, including a solo home run, with two RBI and one run each. Oliver, who went 2-for-3, also sparked Nevada the plate. Sierra Mello stayed hot on Sunday and tallied her second home run of the weekend, a two-run slam in the first, to give Nevada an early edge. McAlister went 1-for-4 with a triple and two runs. Goins had a standout day at the plate as well, going 1-for-2 and drawing a walk. Burda also pieced together a strong performance with one hit.
 
Nevada clinched its first series victory over UNLV since 2017 on Saturday. Sunday's win marks the first time the Pack have swept UNLV since April 30, 2008, when Nevada downed the Rebels in a two-game series.
 
How It Happened
The Pack pounded on the runs in the first. Mello bombed a two out, two-run home run to center to put Nevada up 2-0. Following Mello, Salausa launched a solo shot to right-center to extend Nevada's lead to 3-0.
 
UNLV answered with four runs in the top of the second.
 
Nevada chipped away at UNLV's lead in the third. McAlister got Nevada going on a triple to center. Salausa's RBI single through the left side plated McAlister and tied the game.
 
The Pack took the lead in the fourth on Gutierrez's RBI single through the right side, scoring Bella Kordonowy from third.
 
Gutierrez struck again in the sixth with a solo home run to left.
 
UNLV poured on one run in the top of the seventh to threaten the Pack's lead, but the Nevada defense and Fritz worked out of a jam to secure the victory.
 
HEAR FROM JULIA JENSEN
"It was a great weekend for the whole team, and I'm super grateful for our fans and the team for bringing so much energy to every game. I can't imagine a better way to play my last home game in a Nevada uniform."
 
HEAR FROM SIERRA MELLO
"We wanted to have a good time on the field today. When I went up to the plate in the first, I was ready to hit. The pitcher threw me an inside ball and I kind of just smacked it and it ended up being a home run. It felt really good to complete the sweep over UNLV, especially since it was our last home weekend. We won the series yesterday, but it felt even better to win the last and final game for the seniors and this team."
 
UP NEXT
The Pack travels to Boise, Idaho, on May 14-15 for a three-game series against the Broncos.