Feb. 7, 2003

PHOENIX - In what began as a pitchers' duel, the UNLV softball team dropped its second game of the day at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament, falling to No. 12 Texas 7-1 on Friday.

The Rebels (2-4) held close with the Longhorns (3-0) through the early innings behind a solid pitching effort by Jackie Kerrigan. Kerrigan surrendered just one hit through three innings and allowed no runner past second base.

Texas starter Lizi Sowers was also in the groove, retiring all nine hitters the first time through the lineup. For the second time on the day, junior Bridget Byrne broke up the no-hit bid with a two-out single in the third.

The scoreless battle fizzled in the fourth when Texas began the inning with four straight singles. The last of the four took a bad hop on UNLV second baseman Sam Sardinha and rolled into the outfield, allowing two runners to score. UT's Sam Murphy rounded out the inning with a double to put her team on top, 3-0.

Three more singles and a throwing error in the fourth lifted the Texas edge to 6-0.

The Rebels, who collected hits in the third, fourth and fifth, were unable to push any runs across until the final inning when third baseman Pauline Glenn sent a solo home run shot to left field, the team's first of the year.

Despite the Rebels' offensive struggles, Byrne stretched her hitting streak to five games.

UNLV continues play in the Fiesta Bowl Tournament throughout the weekend with matchups against Oregon State and Texas Tech slated for Saturday.