California Baptist University
UNLV
0-0
Lancers Blank UNLV to Begin the Telesco Era
2/5/2026 8:49:00 PM | Softball
LAS VEGAS, NV --- Teams across Division I celebrated opening day of the softball season on Thursday, and for the Lancers, Thursday marked the start of a new era for the program. Beginning the 2026 campaign in Las Vegas, CBU's bats came out red hot as they ended the night early with an 8-0 shutout of UNLV.
Thursday was game one for head coach Brandon Telesco. Telesco was named head coach of the Lancers in May after a successful stint as Associate Head Coach at the University of California.
I'm glad it's finally over, said Telesco on earning his first win. Now we can put this one behind us, get back to work tomorrow, and start stacking wins. This one isn't about me, it's about the team.
The Lancers wasted no time stacking crooked numbers on the board, as they posted a three-spot in the top of the first. The first runs came courtesy of a Victoria Macias single up the middle, giving Macias the first two RBI of her Division I career.
CBU added to the first inning rally with an RBI single courtesy of Malachy Russell-Millen.
We had a great game plan coming in, added Telesco. It didn't catch us by surprise to put up runs in the first. We thought we would be able to have a big first inning. I'm happy for the group. We wanted to get more people in the game, and this allowed us to get some more names in early.
The bats carried their heat into the second inning, as CBU sent the top of the order to the plate after batting around in the first. Kenzie Farrier-Pilon made it a 4-0 game with her single to center, giving Farrier-Pilon the first RBI of her collegiate career. Sydney Peterson added the next two runs on a two-run single to center.
Russell-Millen picked up RBI number two on a second-inning sacrifice fly that scored a second run after a UNLV error.
In the circle, CBU was backed by Riverside native Miranda De Nava, who logged a five-inning complete game in her CBU debut. De Nava only needed one run of support as she shut out the Rebels, allowing four hits, two walks, and striking out eight.
That was just a little bit of what we can expect, added Telesco on De Nava. She's phenomenal. When she's on, she's capable of being one of the best in the nation. Everyone will find out what she's capable of soon enough.
CBU racked up eight hits in the win. Farrier-Pilon finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in her collegiate debut. Matti Severns began her season with a 2-for-3 outing and a pair of runs scored.
The Lancers will be back on the diamond tomorrow for two more games at Eller Media Stadium. CBU will hit the field at noon to take on the Purdue Boilermakers, and then they will play their third game of the week at 3 p.m. when they see UIC.
CBU will wrap up the UNLV Leadoff Classic on Saturday when they see Purdue and UNLV again.
Team Stats
Batting:
RBI: Macias, Victoria 2 ; Farrier-Pilon, Kenzie 1 ; Peterson, Sydney 2 ; Russell-Millen, Malachy 2
SF: Russell-Millen, Malachy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Severns, Matti 2 ; Annett, Ashlee 1 ; Medellin, Makayla 2 ; Macias, Victoria 1 ; Farrier-Pilon, Kenzie 1 ; Peterson, Sydney 1
SB: Severns, Matti 1 ; Russell-Millen, Malachy 1
HBP: Medellin, Makayla 1
Batting:
2B: Gonzalez, Lyla 1 ; Vasa, Maggie 1
