March 12, 2003

FULLERTON, Calif. - Cal State Northridge's Sondra Milchiker singled up the middle in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the Matadors to a 3-2 victory over the UNLV softball team in the first round of the Kia Classic at Fullerton Field on Wednesday.

The Rebels (13-14) had already mounted a comeback of their own. Trailing 1-0 for most of the game, Kacey Ellis and Sam Sardinha delivered back-to-back RBI singles in the top of the sixth to give the Rebels their only lead of the game.

CSUN (13-10) earned the early lead in the first, taking advantage of two walks and a hit batsman issued by Rebel starter Jacqueline Kerrigan.

Despite trailing by a run, Kerrigan carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning before Jan Moshier led off with a drive to right. But three quick outs silenced any hope for a Matador score.

It wasn't until UNLV had taken the lead that Kerrigan fell into any more trouble. She surrendered a leadoff single to Mulchiker, who moved to second before the Rebels recorded a pair of outs. Then the Matadors' Monique Lovell placed a pinch hit single up the middle, and Mulchiker scored from second.

Tied 2-2, the Rebels were retired in order in the top of the seventh. The Matadors put two aboard with one out in the bottom half of the inning. CSUN then traded an out to put the runners on second and third, and Milchiker then singled to center to score the game winner.

The Rebels continue play in the Kia Classic at 11:00 a.m. against Oklahoma.