Feb. 18, 2001
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Softball team entered the last day of the 2001 UNLV Classic with a game against Portland State, who defeated Utah 9-2 the previous day. This had all the makings for a great game, and it did not disappoint. The Rebels defeated Portland State 7-6 in 10 innings.
Portland State opened the game with two runs in the first inning off freshman Kacey Ellis. The Rebels came back with a run in the second on a RBI single by freshman Shawna Goessling to cut the deficit in half. UNLV tallied another run in the third on a single by junior Samantha Kimura, scoring freshman Carrie Bayless, who had been moving around the bases on a great sacrifice by senior Racheal Goodpaster, tying the game at 2 apiece.
The Vikings scored another run in their half of the fifth, making the score 3-2. Again, the Rebels didn't back down, scoring the equalizing run in the sixth inning, sending to game to the final inning of regulation tied at three.
Both team were unable to score in the seventh, sending the game to both team's first extra inning game of the season. Using International rules, a the player who was the last out in the previous inning is placed on second base to begin each extra inning. Portland State scored in the top half of the eighth off a wild pitch by Ellis. UNLV placed junior Arica Painter on second to begin the bottom half of the eighth. Senior Melissa Inouye placed a great bunt right in front of the plate, sending Painter to third. Goessling singled in her second RBI of the day to even the score at 4-4. Later in the inning, the Rebels got the bases loaded with one out. Inouye reached third and came home on a wild pitch but was called out at the plate. The Rebels were unable to score, so the game moved on to the ninth inning.
Portland State began the ninth by advancing the runner on second to third with a nice sacrifice bunt. A single followed scoring the run from third. PSU moved ahead 5-4. UNLV cut down another possible run at the plate as Kimura made a great block of the plate to keep the runner from sliding under the tag.
The Rebels again battled from behind in the bottom of the ninth. Kimura put down another great bunt sending senior Marissa Martinez to third. Senior Linda Garza stepped to the plate with one out and Martinez on third. Garza lined a screamer down the left field line for a triple to equal the score at five. Painter then lined a solid hit to the first baseman for the third out of the inning.
The 10th inning began with the Rebels making two quick outs and the PSU runner on third. Portland State third baseman, Annie Peccia reached on an error by Painter to score the go-ahead run, 6-5.
UNLV had to come from behind for the third consecutive inning. Inouye laid down a but to advance Painter to third with one out. Goessling reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Painter from third. Freshman Lisa Moses stepped up to the plate with the game-winning run standing at third. Moses doubled to left field scoring Goessling from first to end the game.
The Rebels will face Mississippi State at 10:00 on Friday, February 23 at the Rebel Diamond in the UNLV Tri-Tourney.
-UNLV-
2001 UNLV CLASSIC FINAL STANDIGS
W L*California 5 0*UCLA 5 0Oregon State 4 1UNLV 3 2Nebraska 3 2Utah 3 2Oregon 3 2Cal Poly 3 2Florida Int'l. 2 3Wisconsin 2 3Southern Utah 2 3Loyola 2 3Kansas 1 4C. Michigan 1 4Portland State 1 4Fordham 0 5
