April 10, 2003
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Becky McDonald and Jacqueline Kerrigan tossed back-to-back shutouts to lead the UNLV softball team to a doubleheader sweep against UC Riverside Thursday at UCR Field.
The Rebels (18-25, 2-4 MWC) took the opener 3-0 behind a masterful two-hit performance from McDonald. In what was the best game of the freshman's brief career, she carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning before UCR catcher Andrea Cunningham pulled a drive to left field to end the suspense.
The Highlanders (7-29) then made their only serious scoring threat with a second straight hit by Shannon Peterson, but McDonald got Jamie Yee to pop out and end the inning.
UNLV gave McDonald an early lead to work with, getting a leadoff run from Bridget Byrne. Byrne beat out a hit to the second baseman, and quickly put herself in scoring position with a steal of second. Morgan Bostwick then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to push Byrne to third, and Lisa Moses delivered the final blow with a rip to left.
The Rebels made it 2-0 in the second when Kacey Ellis converted a walk into a run. Ellis moved to second on a single by McDonald off the end of the third baseman's glove and to third when Joanna Jackson drew another walk. A wild pitch by UCR starter Nikki Bethurum allowed all three runners to advance.
McDonald helped herself out at the plate once again in the fourth, lifting a double into shallow center that rolled past a diving fielder. She came around to score the game's last run on Byrne's second hit of the game.
The freshman lefty cruised with the lead, striking out eight batters in her first career shutout and collecting just her second win of the season.
The momentum carried into the second game of the non-conference doubleheader, a 4-0 victory for the Rebels. Byrne again kicked off the game with a slap hit, this time down the third base line. Bostwick followed with a drive to right, and both runners advanced on Moses' sac bunt. Pauline Glenn then walked to load the bases for Kerrigan. The Rebel pitcher put herself up 1-0 with the third hit of the inning, an RBI single to center that scored Byrne easily. A wild pitch allowed Bostwick to make it 2-0 before the Highlanders escaped the jam.
Kerrigan sat UCR down in order in the first, but struggled a bit in the second. She began the inning by plunking cleanup hitter Melissa Sanchez in the thigh with a fastball. She got two outs before surrendering back-to-back singles to load the bases. But she got the last batter to fly out to quell the threat.
Kerrigan allowed six hits in all, but scattered them over the next three innings. UCR pitcher Jenell Jackson locked down after the first, retiring 11 straight at one point. But UNLV maintained its lead into the seventh inning.
Designated player Melissa Bruechert started the insurance rally with a double that bounced off the left center fence and just missed clearing the mark by a few feet. A subsequent double by catcher Carly Petracco scored Bruechert, and Petracco took third on the Highlanders' putout attempt at home. Carrie Bayless then delivered a sacrifice slap to third to put the Rebels up 4-0.
Kerrigan completed her seventh whitewash of the year and improved to 14-10 overall. She struck out four batters on the way.
Offensively, Byrne was 4-for-8 on the day and drove in a run, as did Carly Petracco in a 3-for-6 afternoon.
The Rebels continue their road trip through southern California by stepping back into conference play. They face San Diego State in a twin bill on Saturday at 12 noon at SDSU Field.
