April 2, 2000

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV softball team dropped both games of its Mountain West Conference doubleheader against Utah Sunday, falling 14-6 in the opener and 14-3 in the night cap.

The Rebels (14-22, 1-3 MWC) responded after allowing Utah (23-15, 4-0 MWC) to go up 4-0 in the third inning of the opener behind a Jenny Monson home run. A walk and an error set runners up for Geney Orris to belt her fifth homer of the year and tie the game at 4.

The Utes poured on the offense in the late innings, scoring three in the fifth, three in the sixth and another four in the seventh while four costly UNLV errors prolonged Utah's charge. Orris suffered the loss while Utah's Kristin Arbogast picked up the win.

Arbogast started game two of the twin bill also, but the Rebels got to her early. Singles by Erica Vollweiler and Nicole Miller set up a three-run blast by Racheal Goodpaster, her ninth of the year.

Nicole Truax, who started both games for UNLV, cruised through the first three innings, but ran into a spot of trouble in the fourth. Utah followed a leadoff homer by Sunny Smith with two singles and a walk to load the bases. Truax walked in two runs before allowing a two-RBI double to Lisa Hall, putting Utah up 5-3.

Orris came into relieve Truax, but the Ute onslaught did not stop, hitting for a single, double and second home run in the inning. Danielle Ferreira replaced Orris and got the last two outs, but the damage was done as Utah suddenly held a 10-3 advantage.

The Rebels scattered a few singles after Utah's big inning, but were unable to push any more runs across. The Utes increased their lead to 14-3 in the top of the sixth and held off UNLV's rally attempt to win after six inning by a mercy rule.

UNLV concludes its eight-game home stand on Thursday, April 6 with a 12 noon doubleheader against New Mexico State at Rebel Diamond.