LAS VEGAS, Nev. ? #23 UNLV took advantage of several early Bradley defensive miscues, scoring four times in the first three innings on their way to a 7-1 victory over the Braves Friday night at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas.

The Rebels (5-1-1) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning without recording a hit against BU starting pitcher Amanda Clack (Hillsboro, Mo./Hillsboro H.S.). Brittany Bolinger reached second on a Lauren Kelly (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence H.S.) throwing error to lead off the inning, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly from Laura Briones. Caitlyn Paus led off the bottom of the second inning with a double to left-center field. Two batters later, UNLV stretched their lead to 3-0 on a two-run home run from Bolinger.

Bradley (1-1) threatened in the top of the third inning, as Kelly and freshman Jess Boeger (St. Louis, Mo./Afton H.S.) started the inning with back-to-back singles. After Miriam Wegmann (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville H.S.) bunted the runners over, Kelly was thrown out at the plate trying to score from third on a ground ball hit by Clack. One batter later, Clack was forced out at second base on a ground ball from Jacqueline Vitale (Indian Head Park, Ill./Lyons Township H.S.) to end the inning with no runs scored.

The Braves got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Boeger collected her second hit of the game with a one-out single up the middle off UNLV pitcher Traci Odegard. Boeger was forced out at second on a fielder's choice from Wegmann, who scored one batter later on an RBI double from Clack to bring the Braves within 4-1.

UNLV added insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a three-run double from Briones for a 7-1 lead.

Clack struck out five batters but took the loss for the Braves, allowing six runs on six hits in 5.1 innings. Rebecca Bishop (Carmichael, Calif./Del Campo H.S.) finished the game for the Braves, allowing the bases-clearing double from Briones. Odegard picked up the win for the Rebels.

Boeger led the Bradley offense with two hits, as six different Braves recorded a hit in the defeat.

The loss drops the Braves to 1-1 on the season following a 3-2 victory over Wisconsin in the tournament opener Friday afternoon. BU plays twice Saturday, facing UTEP at 1:15 p.m. and Oregon at 3:30 p.m.