March 19, 1999

FULLERTON, Calif. - In first day action at the Kia Klassic hosted by Cal State Fullerton the Rebels split games, losing to Florida 5-1 before defeating #5 Oklahoma, 7-3.

Game one against the Gators began as a defensive battle as both teams managed just one hit a piece through the first three innings. Florida (14-9) got on the board first with a three-run home run in the fourth inning by Emily Marino against Rebel pitcher Nicole Truax. The Gators added two more as they completed the fourth with five funs on four hits and were aided by an error on Rebel rightfielder Keao Chang. An RBI-double by Kelly DeArman put the Rebels on the board in their half of the fourth, cutting the Gator lead to 5-1. Unfortunately the Rebels could not put a string of hits together and fell by the 5-1 final. Truax picked up the loss to go 1-5 on the season as the Rebels fell to 9-12 overall.

In the nightcap the Rebels jumped up early on #5 Oklahoma (23-8) with three runs in the first, including a two-RBI single by DeArman. UNLV added two more runs in the second inning off a two-run home run by Racheal Goodpaster, her eighth of the season. The Sooners scored in the sixth inning when Deborah Hargrave doubled in Stephanie Clark to cut the lead to 5-1. They came within two runs at 5-3 when Oklahoma scored off two Rebel errors and a RBI-single by Lisa Carey. The Rebels increased their lead to three runs in the top half of the seventh when pitcher Geney Orris drove in Danielle Ferreira to go ahead by the 6-3. The final run was scored off a single by Erica Vollweiler, who was 4-for-4 in the game, and UNLV went on to snap its six-game losing streak with the 7-3 victory. Orris' record went to 4-3 with the win.

UNLV (10-12, 3-3 WAC) continues pool play at the Kia Klassic tomorrow with a 1:00pm game against #4 Washington.