April 3, 2001
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Softball team swept UC Riverside on Tuesday, 6-4 and 10-9 at the Rebel Diamond. The Rebels improve to 20-16 on the year and UC Riverside falls to 8-27-1.
Game one began with the Highlanders taking an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. The Rebels cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth inning as junior Geney Orris belted her third home run in consecutive games. Riverside pushed the advantage back to two runs in the top of the fifth inning, but the Rebels came right back in the bottom of the inning. UNLV scored three times to take a 4-3 lead, thanks to a three run double by senior Linda Garza who tried to turn a double into a triple but was thrown out at third.
The Rebels got two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to stretch the advantage to 6-3. Riverside could only muster one run in the top of the seventh, falling 6-4.
The first inning of the second game featured eight runs combined. Riverside jumped out to a 3-0 lead. As in the previous game, the Rebels had the quick answer. UNLV scored five times in the bottom of the first as senior Racheal Goodpaster hit a RBI double and Garza belted a three run triple to center field. Senior Melissa Inouye recorded the fifth run of the inning on a squeeze bunt single, scoring Garza from third.
The Highlanders took the lead again, scoring four runs in the top of the fourth and fifth innings. The Rebels tied the game at seven in the bottom of the fifth as Orris hit her second home run of the day, a two run blast to center field. The Rebels then proceeded to take a 9-7 lead in the bottom of the sixth as junior Samantha Kimura crushed her first home run of the season, a two run shot down the left field line.
With one last chance to tie the game, the Highlanders scored two runs to force the Rebels to bat once again. Jennifer Benbury tripled to left field scoring the tying runs. UNLV was unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, leaving the winning run at third.
With the tie-breaker rule in effect, (the last out from the previous inning placed on second base), Riverside advanced the runner to third and had the opportunity to take the lead but Karli Burneleit was cut down at the plate from freshman pitcher Kacey Ellis to Kimura.
UNLV could not score in the eighth either leaving freshman Bridget Byrne stranded at third.
The Highlanders left the go-ahead run at third in the top of the ninth. This was familiar territory for the Rebels, as the previous game against San Diego State went to nine innings. Orris hit a sacrifice bunt, advancing Goodpaster to third base. Garza was intentionally walked to get to Inouye. The Highlanders' pitcher, Monique Baeza, threw a wild pitch and Goodpaster scored the winning run, 10-9.
The Rebels will get back into conference play on Friday as they host BYU in a double header at noon at the Rebel Diamond. UNLV will then host Utah on Sunday (not Saturday as originally scheduled) at noon.
