Feb. 15, 2004

Box Score

HENDERSON, Nev. - Despite strong pitching performances from Jacqueline Kerrigan and Kacey Ellis, the UNLV softball team dropped its fourth straight game on Sunday, falling to Wisconsin, 3-1, in the final game of the UNLV Softball Classic at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park.

The Rebels (3-7) had a couple of scoring opportunities, but could only capitalize on one. Singles by Bridget Byrne and Becky McDonald in the fourth inning set the table for Ellis, who smacked a line drive into left. That erased a 1-0 deficit and knotted the game at one.

Wisconsin (2-3) recaptured the lead in the bottom of the fifth on an unearned run. With one out and one on, the Badgers' Samantha Polito hit a soft shot back to the pitcher, which Kerrigan could not handle. Three pitches later, she hit the next batter to load the bases, and UNLV coach Lonni Alameda turned to her bullpen.

Ellis came on to relieve Kerrigan and got UW cleanup hitter Boo Gillette to ground to third. The Rebels put out the lead runner at home on the play, but threw the ball away in trying to turn the double play. That allowed Polito to come around to score the go-ahead run.

UW tacked on an insurance run in the sixth, leaving UNLV with a 3-1 deficit in the seventh. Freshman Brittany Freight began the inning with her first collegiate hit, a long drive to left center that fell in for a double. Morgan Bostwick grounded out to third for the first out, but Carly Petracco lobbed a single over the head of the first baseman for a single. That put runners at the corners and brought Lisa Sampson to the plate in the form of the go-ahead run.

Sampson made a good effort, but hit a double-play ball straight to the second baseman, who easily performed her duty by tagging the runner and throwing to first to end the game.

Kerrigan (3-6), who threw just over four innings, took the loss. The Badgers' Eden Brock (2-1) was the winner.

UNLV finished play in the UNLV Softball Classic at 1-4. The Rebels will take three days of rest before hosting their second tournament of the year next weekend at Eller Media Stadium. Play begins on Thursday night as UNLV hosts Northern Illinois at 6:00 p.m.