Feb. 19, 2004
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV softball team snapped a four-game losing streak and opened the UNLV Tournament I with a victory in a 3-2 decision over Northern Illinois at Eller Media Stadium on Thursday.
The Rebels (4-7) generated as much plate production as they had all year, racking up eight hits off the Huskies (0-1). The highlight of them was Pauline Glenn's solo homer in the second inning, her second of the year.
That shot put UNLV up 1-0, but the lead didn't last long. NIU answered quickly in the top of the third, scoring once on four hits in the inning. Rebel starter Jacqueline Kerrigan (4-6) gave up back-to-back singles to start the inning, but looked like she might escape unscathed when a 4-6-3 double play erased a base runner. But the Huskies kept the rally alive as Lacey Gones dropped an RBI single into center to tie the game.
UNLV recaptured the lead in the fourth. Glenn drew a leadoff walk and gave way to pinch runner Joanna Jackson. Jackson moved to second on a perfectly executed sac bunt by Morgan Bostwick, then made a heads-up play to give her team the lead. Noticing the Huskies had nobody covering third base, Jackson broke for the bag. NIU catcher Annie Johnson quickly fired to third, but with nobody covering, the ball sailed into left field. Jackson read the miscue and rounded for home without breaking stride.
The Rebels tacked on a very necessary insurance run in the seventh, rallying after a double play. Bridget Byrne extended her hitting streak to four games with a single over the head of the third baseman. Brittany Freight followed with another shot, this one right down the left field line. Before the defense could cover the ball, Byrne was on third and Freight coasted into second. Byrne came in to score an unearned run on a fielding error by the Huskies' second baseman, putting UNLV up 3-1.
NIU made it exciting. Kerrigan walked the first two batters of the inning, and they moved into scoring position on a passed ball. After Kerrigan struck out leadoff hitter Kelly Drodz, Kelly Redican lifted a fly ball into left, scoring a run from third on a sac fly. The heat turned up as NIU moved its tying run to third on a wild pitch. However, Kerrigan took care of business at the plate, ringing up her ninth strikeout of the game to close the victory.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for UNLV and earned them a first-round victory in this weekend's tournament, which continues on Friday with six games slated at Eller Media Stadium.
