Feb. 29, 2004
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - Jacqueline Kerrigan's bid for a no-hitter was broken up just one out shy of completion as the UNLV softball team cruised to a 6-0 win over Utah Valley State at Eller Media Stadium on Sunday.
Kerrigan (7-7), who had a no-hitter broken up in the fifth inning against Simon Fraser on Saturday, never had a serious threat of a hit until UVSC's Jamie Hendricks lined a shot into shallow center in the seventh. Kerrigan issued just two walks in the game and had three others reach base on errors.
Offensively, UNLV (8-10) rebounded from a tough outing in the day's first game and earned revenge on UVSC (1-3) for a 4-1 loss on Saturday. The Rebels pounded out 10 hits, highlighted by multi-hit games by Bridget Byrne and Kacey Ellis.
UNLV opened the game hot, scoring three times in the top of the first. Five of the first six batters collected hits, started by an infield drive by Byrne. Byrne stole second and took third on a passed ball, then scored easily on Lisa Sampson's single up the middle.
The Rebels were running as Sampson stole second and went to third on a ball poked through the right side by Ellis. Morgan Bostwick then took a turn, hitting a ball to left to score Sampson. Ellis was nabbed trying to advance on a passed ball just before Amber Campbell slammed a double down the left field line that scored Bostwick, and the Rebels were out to a comfortable lead.
As if the lead were not comfortable enough, UNLV added two more in the second. A leadoff walk by Pauline Glenn followed by a Britney Hillyer single put two aboard. Byrne sacrificed herself to advance the runners, who then came around to score on a groundout by Brittany Freight and single to right by Ellis, respectively. The hit by Ellis was her sixth consecutive of the day.
After the first two innings, Wolverine starter Kristy Miller settled down, surrendering just two hits over the next three innings. Kerrigan kept things uneventful in the bottom half of the innings, retiring 17 straight save a fielding error by Bostwick.
As UNLV jumped out to a 6-0 lead, the excitement began to build as Kerrigan continued to hold the Wolverines hitless. She retired UVSC in order in the fifth and sixth, setting the drama for the seventh.
UVSC began the seventh with a roller down the third-base line that got away from Glenn. Kerrigan then issued her second walk of the game to put two runners aboard. After forcing a pop out to second, Kerrigan fanned her seventh batter of the game for the second out. That is when Hendricks lifted a ball over the middle infield that dropped safely into shallow center to end the suspense. Kerrigan struck out the next batter to end the game and cap her seventh win of the year.
The Rebels return to the road next week as they head to Clearwater, Fla., to compete in the Speedline Invitational. Among the teams UNLV is scheduled to face there is the 2004 USA Olympic squad in an exhibition on Thursday, March 4.
