Feb. 21, 2004

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - Amber Campbell's bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth drove in the winning run as the UNLV softball team upset Michigan State, 3-2, at Eller Media Stadium on Saturday.

The Rebels (6-8) used a complete team effort in defeating the Spartans (3-3), highlighted by a career-high 15-strikeout performance from starting pitcher Jacqueline Kerrigan (5-7).

Kerrigan cruised through the first three innings of the game, allowing only a two-out double in the first. She struck out the side in the third to quickly lift her total to seven for the game.

MSU pitcher Jessica Beech (3-1) was equally sharp, however, scattering just a pair of singles over the same span.

The monotony was finally snapped in the fifth. MSU looked as if it might strike first when Angel Merren smashed a shot to the gap in right center with one out. The hit was easily good for two bases, but a perfect strike from right fielder Brittany Freight and a quick cutoff throw from Campbell nabbed Merren trying for third.

The Rebels turned it around in the bottom half of the inning. Morgan Bostwick dropped a Texas Leaguer in behind the shortstop, followed by an infield single by Wendy Godwin to put two aboard. Christy Tennes stepped in to pinch run for Godwin at first, and both runners moved into scoring position on a Bridget Byrne sacrifice, the second out of the inning.

That set the stage for Freight, who came through on the offensive end this time with a single to shallow center. Bostwick scored easily from third, and after the Spartan centerfielder misplayed the ball, Tennes motored home to give the Rebels a 2-0 lead.

The lead was short lived, however. Kerrigan quickly rang up outs on the first two batters in the sixth, but surrendered a double to Natalie Furrow, her second of the game. With Furrow at second, cleanup hitter Elizabeth Peterson stepped in and executed her role to perfection, driving a home run to straightaway center to knot the game at two.

Both sides went down in order in the seventh, sending the game to extra innings. Under the international tiebreaker rule, each team began the inning with a runner at second base.

With the top of the Michigan State order up, Kerrigan forced Brittney Green to pop up and struck out Beech, her 15th K of the night. That also kept the runner from advancing. With two down, UNLV head coach Lonni Alameda chose to intentionally walk Furrow to pitch to Peterson. The Spartans' catcher went after the first offering, popping up to short to end the inning.

The Rebels began their half of the eighth with Joanna Jackson at second base. Freight again played the hero, dropping a perfect bunt in front of the plate to push Jackson to third. MSU then unveiled its strategy, choosing to intentionally walk both Lisa Sampson and Kacey Ellis to set up a force at home. That brought Campbell to the plate, who coolly drove a pitch through the right side of the infield to bring home the game winner.

The win capped a perfect day for the Rebels, who won twice in a day for the first time this year. Kerrigan gave up six hits in her fifth win of the year and fanned 15 against just a single walk. While Kerrigan performed from the circle, Freight was UNLV's hero both at the plate and in the field. The Rebel freshman was 2-for-3 on the night with an RBI, dropped a key sac bunt, and recorded her first career outfield assist.

With the win, the Rebels' chances for the tournament title are also alive. UNLV would need some help, including a win over Louisiana-Monroe in their tournament finale on Sunday and a Michigan State victory over Arkansas. The Rebels are slated to play at 2:30 p.m. at Eller Media Stadium.