Feb. 16, 2002

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - UNLV senior pitcher Nicole Truax struck out five and gave up two earned runs in a 7-4 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday at the UNLV Softball Classic at Desert Breeze Complex.

Truax, collecting her first win of the year, was able to ride a 3-0 first-inning lead throughout most of the game. In six innings of work, she allowed the Red Raiders (3-11) just five singles, one double and one walk.

"I really thought Nicole was on today," UNLV head coach Shan McDonald said. "She kept us in it, even when the game was close, and never gave up any big hits."

The game got close in the fifth inning when a fielding error and two hits pulled Tech within a run, 5-4. Truax retired four of the next five batters to set up teammate Jackie Kerrigan for the save.

Kerrigan never stepped into a pressure situation, however, as Kira Enlow delivered an RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth and later scored to give the Rebels a 7-4 cushion.

Prior to the fifth, UNLV (5-5) banged out three runs in the first and two more in the second. Leadoff hitter Bridget Byrne singled twice and scored both times.