April 11, 2000

Cedar City - The UNLV Rebel softball team fell to Southern Utah, 3-2 and 7-6, in a doubleheader Tuesday. The Rebels are now 15-27 on the year and the Thunderbirds improve to 6-31.

The Thunderbirds were thinking revenge coming into today's contest. UNLV had swept them in the Rebel's first games of the season, 8-0 and 14-1.

In game one, the Rebels came out firing. Racheal Goodpaster blasted a two-run homerun to put the Rebels up 2-0 in the first. The shot was No. 10 on the year and brought her RBI tally up to 27. Debbie Hatch increased the lead in the third via a base hit RBI by Linda Garza.

Southern Utah battled back to take the lead in the 4th, 4-3, but UNLV answered right back with three runs in the 5th. Arica Painter, pinch running for Nicole Miller, scored on a sacrifice fly ball by Celeste Alvarado. Hatch earned her first two RBI of the season with a single to right field that brought in Geney Orris and Goodpaster, gaving UNLV a 6-4 lead. The Thunderbirds rallied in the 6th with three runs to better the Rebels by one. That would prove to be difference in the game.

For the nightcap, So. Utah compiled a 3-0 lead heading into the fourth inning. Melissa Inouye belted her first double and 4th RBI of the year driving in Alvarado. In the 6th, the Rebels closed in on the Thunderbirds with Goodpaster capitalizing on a throwing error by the pitcher. Southern Utah would hold off the Rebel rally and complete the two-game series undefeated.

UNLV will be back at home Friday April 14th to take on Colorado St. in a doubleheader to begin at 12 noon.