Game 20 recap: UNLV vs. Central Arkansas

UNLV 1, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 0

FORT COLLINS, CO — UNLV pitcher Jasmine Martin allowed no hits through six innings, reliever Jenny Bressler put up another clean inning in the seventh, and the Rebels advanced to the 2022 NISC title game on the power of the combined no-hitter and a solo home run from Denise Armendariz.

UNLV will face Baylor in Thursday’s championship game, set for 11 a.m. at the TC Colorado Field. UNLV won the National Invitational Volleyball Championships (NIVC) last November, sweeping Valparaiso in three sets.

In the bottom of the seventh, Central Arkansas’ Tremere Harris reached first base on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Maddie Schmidt made a lunging catch at the left field fence for the second out with Harris moving to third base. Morgan Nelson fouled out to first to end the game.

Armendariz, who has been the hitting star for UNLV (41-14) repeatedly, hit her home run in the fourth inning. Martin (7-1) gave up three walks and struck out two.

Jordan Johnson was excellent in the circle as well, giving the Sugar Bears (37-21) a great starting effort with 5 1/3 innings pitched, allowing four hits and two walks to go with four strikeouts.

UNLV got a leaping catch from Lauryn Barker for the first out of the UCA sixth, and the inning ended when catcher Hailey Schmaltz nailed a would-be base stealer at second.