Feb. 6, 2004

Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. - Back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning spoiled the UNLV softball team's season opener as the Rebels fell 7-1 to Cal State Northridge in the first game of the Pepsi Arizona Tournament at Hillenbrand Stadium.

UNLV (0-1) trailed CSUN (2-0) by just a single run heading into the bottom of the fifth and picked up the second out of the inning on a sacrifice bunt that pushed a runner to second base. But the Matadors sent Emilee Moores to the plate, who had already given her team an early lead with a solo homer in the first inning. Rebel starter Becky McDonald (0-1) cautiously walked Moores to put two aboard for cleanup hitter Christen Bedwell.

Bedwell served her role well, hammering a shot to left field to put CSUN up 5-1 and essentially seal the fate of the Rebels. Sondra Milchiker followed her teammate with a solo homer to the same spot of the field, further ruining an otherwise well-pitched game by McDonald. The Rebels' sophomore lefty surrendered just two hits and struck out a pair before the explosive fifth inning.

The Rebels could not counter the Matadors' offensive burst. UNLV collected just three hits off CSUN starter Jenny Wheeler (1-0), two of which came from senior outfielder Lisa Sampson. Sampson singled in her first at-bat, stole second, took third on a ground ball and scored the Rebels' only run on a wild pitch. She singled to right center in her next at-bat, but was left stranded before ending the game on a lineout to left.

Wheeler struck out eight Rebels in her complete game victory.

UNLV continues tournament play on Friday, facing Mountain West Conference rival New Mexico in a non-league game at 1:00 p.m.