March 20, 2004
Box Score
FULLERTON, Calif. - Kacey Ellis and Wendy Godwin drove in two runs apiece to lead the UNLV softball team to a 4-0 victory over Princeton at the Kia Classic on Saturday.
The Rebels (17-18) had base runners in each of the first four innings, but couldn't find the timely hits and left five stranded over that span. They had a nice look in the first inning after Bridget Byrne drew a leadoff walk, then moved all the way to third on a perfect bunt by Brittany Freight just in front of the plate. But Tiger starter Erin Snyder (5-6) forced two straight outs to escape the jam.
In the second, Godwin and Pauline Glenn hit back-to-back singles, but couldn't move past second base, and a Byrne leadoff single in the third was left at third.
Finally UNLV got to Snyder in the fifth. Amber Campbell walked to start the inning and quickly stole second. Two batters later, Freight reached on catcher's interference. UNLV traded an out for a base as Lisa Sampson grounded out to the pitcher, putting runners at second and third with two away.
In her third at bat of the day, Ellis drove a pitch into left center that scored both runners and gave the Rebels their first lead of tournament play. The rally didn't end there, however. Morgan Bostwick singled to left, and again the Rebels had two runners aboard. Godwin then delivered her second hit of the game, a double to the left center gap. Ellis scored easily from second as Bostwick rounded third. With an impending play at the plate, Bostwick bowled over the Princeton catcher to score the fourth run of the inning.
Princeton (7-8) did not go away lightly, however. The Tigers hit several line drives off Rebel pitcher Jacqueline Kerrigan (14-13), but could not convert any into scores. In the fifth, Carly Petracco nabbed a runner trying to steal. In the sixth, Princeton started the inning with back-to-back singles, but Kerrigan forced a couple of pop ups and a groundout to avoid the threat.
Down to their final inning, Princeton finally got on the scoreboard in the seventh. Three straight singles loaded the bases for Stephanie Steel. Steel then belted a routine sac fly into center field to drive home the Tigers' only run. Princeton tried to advance its other runners on the same play, however, and Sampson delivered a strike from center to nab the runner at third, completing the double play.
Kerrigan struck out four and tossed a complete game in ending a personal three-game losing skid. The Rebels turned out nine hits in the game, with two apiece from Ellis, Godwin, Byrne and Bostwick.
UNLV remains in Fullerton for one last game, a rematch against No. 20 Nebraska on Saturday night at 5:00 p.m. at the Titan Softball Complex.
