Feb. 28, 2004
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV softball team racked up 15 hits and rolled to a 9-1 six-inning victory over Simon Fraser at Eller Media Stadium on Saturday.
The Rebels (7-8) were equally impressive defensively, turning out an errorless game and allowing just two hits to the Clan (2-1), the top-ranked team in NAIA.
UNLV starter Jacqueline Kerrigan (6-7) nearly tossed her first career no-hitter, holding SFU without a hit until the fifth inning. With one-out, Clan relief pitcher Jen Schreyer dropped a line drive into left field to end the suspense.
The outcome of the game was far less suspenseful as UNLV jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. After retiring SFU in order in the top of the first, UNLV began the game with four straight hits. Coupled with some aggressive base running, the Rebels scored three times in the inning. Kacey Ellis drove in two of those.
UNLV added two more runs in the second, courtesy of a pair of doubles by Bridget Byrne and Lisa Sampson, and stretched its lead to 6-0 in the third after a Pauline Glenn double and an RBI single by Wendy Godwin.
SFU scored its only run of the game in the sixth inning, off relief pitcher Becky McDonald. After a leadoff walk, Cari Irwin collected the Clan's second hit of the game to put runners at first and second. The runners marched around the bases on routine groundouts and were able to break up the Rebels' shutout bid on an RBI groundout to second by catcher Becky Hartley.
Carrying a 7-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth, the Rebels again came out swinging. Byrne kicked the inning off with a single to left, her third hit of the day, and advanced to second on a wild throw. Byrne, however, was caught in a pickle on the next play, but not before Joanna Jackson advanced to second. Sampson then slammed a shot to the fence in left center, good for an RBI triple to put the Rebels up by seven. Ellis then singled to left, allowing Sampson to score easily and put the Rebels up by the necessary eight runs to end the game.
Of the Rebels' 15 hits, three apiece came from Byrne, Sampson and Ellis.
UNLV continues play in the Rebel Spring Tournament on Saturday afternoon against Utah Valley State College.
