LAS VEGAS Sophomore right-hander Alex Hupp saw her career-best, six-game win streak snapped, as UNLV got to Hupp early in a 5-1 victory over the Nebraska softball team in the final game of the Rebel Round Robin in Las Vegas.
UNLV's victory came in sharp contrast to NU's win earlier in the day. After Nebraska held UNLV without an earned run in game one and exploded for 10 runs in a run-rule victory, the Rebels turned the tables in game two, scoring five runs on 14 hits while winning by four.
Hupp was responsible for each of the five runs, as she fell to 6-4 on the season after winning her last six decisions. Hupp, who had thrown three consecutive shutouts entering Sunday's start, allowed five runs on a career-high 14 hits, including four runs on eight hits through the first three innings.
Stephanie Bregante the only pitcher to defeat top-ranked Arizona State this season earned the win for UNLV (19-13-1). Bregante (10-7) worked around eight hits and one walk to allow just one run while striking out five in a complete-game effort.
UNLV scored its first run in the top of the second, using three hits including an RBI double from Sandy Nakamura to take a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third, three consecutive one-out hits and a sacrifice fly led to a pair of Rebel runs. A two-out, RBI single from Nakamura capped the three-run inning and extended UNLV's lead to 4-0. The Huskers nearly escaped the inning with only one run crossing the plate, as NU felt it had caught an attempted base stealer, but the umpire ruled the runner safe.
Nebraska, meanwhile, recorded a hit in each of the first four innings, but the Huskers were never able to produce for a big inning. The most frustrating example came in the bottom of the sixth, when NU brought the tying run to the plate with only one out.
In the first game, Long finished a home run shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs as the Nebraska offense exploded for 10 runs in a 10-2, six-inning win.
Long set new career highs with her three hits and four RBIs to pace NU's 11-hit attack. Fellow junior Amanda Duran added a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs as Nebraska won a true road game for the first time in three tries this season.
In the circle, junior right-hander Molly Hill did not allow an earned run while striking out five and allowing only four hits in six innings of work.
Heather Slettvet (2-3) took the loss for UNLV.
which fell to 18-13-1 on the season.
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