March 28, 2004

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

TUCSON, Ariz. - The UNLV softball team lost both ends of its doubleheader against top-ranked Arizona on Sunday, falling 11-3 in the opener and 6-4 in the nightcap at Hillenbrand Stadium.

The Rebels (17-21) struggled in the opener, losing to Arizona left-hander Wendy Allen (8-0) for the third time this season. UNLV collected seven hits off Allen and pushed three runs across, but it was not enough to compete with the offensive power of the Wildcats (36-1).

Jacqueline Kerrigan (17-20) started the game for UNLV and took the loss, but pitched only to three batters. After retiring leadoff hitter Caitlyn Lowe, Kerrigan surrendered an infield hit to Autumn Champion, who quickly moved all the way to third with a pair of stolen bases. Champion then scored as Allen hammered a shot to left center to drive in the game's first run.

Kerrigan threw just one pitch to the next batter before leaving the game due to illness. Kacey Ellis moved from first base to relieve Kerrigan, but gave up another single in the inning to score Allen before closing the frame.

Arizona added another run in the second before piling on four in the third. It used six hits over the span while UNLV managed just two Bridget Byrne singles through the same stretch.

Finally in the fourth, the Rebels rallied to break up the shutout. Down 7-0, Morgan Bostwick hit a two-out double, followed by an RBI single by Wendy Godwin to get UNLV on the scoreboard.

The Wildcats continued to pound away at the plate. Erin Palomarez led off the inning with a homer to right before a pair of doubles scored two more, giving Arizona a 10-1 lead heading into the fifth.

The Rebels needed at least two runs in the fifth to keep playing, and that's exactly what they produced. Brittney Hillyer reached as the leadoff on a fielding error by Arizona shortstop Samantha Quintero. Amber Campbell then bunted for a single, and Palomarez threw the putout attempt away, allowing Hillyer to move all the way to third. Byrne then slapped her third hit of the game down the first base line to load the bags. Two batters later, Hillyer scored on a Lisa Sampson single, and Campbell scored on an Ellis groundout, cutting Arizona's lead to 10-3.

Ellis held the 'Cats scoreless in the fifth, but couldn't stop the winning run from coming across on a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

UNLV played a much tighter game in the nightcap, carrying a tie game into the sixth inning. Starter Becky McDonald (1-2) delivered one of her best performances of the season despite taking the loss.

Arizona pushed four runs across in the first inning, using three hits and a pair of Rebel fielding errors.

That was all the Wildcats would get until the sixth, however, as McDonald settled in. She allowed only four singles over the next four innings.

The Rebels found their groove offensively in the third inning, getting to Arizona starter Leslie Wolfe for three runs. Campbell singled to begin the inning, and Byrne reached on an error. Both runners advanced on Sampson's sac bunt. Ellis followed, also dropping a bunt, scoring Campbell on the squeeze play. Three straight hits from Bostwick, Godwin and Carly Petracco scored two more, and the Rebels were suddenly down just a run.

UNLV tied the game in the next inning. With one out, Byrne hit an infield single and stole second to get into scoring position. Sampson then drove a ball into left center, easily scoring the speedy Byrne and knotting the game at four.

With the score tied, Arizona turned to the bullpen and looked to ace Alicia Hollowell (23-0). Hollowell got out of the inning quickly, nabbing Sampson trying to steal third and striking out Ellis.

Hollowell was nearly untouchable over the last three innings. Bostwick popped up to short for the first out in the fifth, and she was the only Rebel to put the ball in play. Following Bostwick's pop out, Hollowell struck out the next eight batters she faced.

She also earned the victory as her offense strung together a pair of runs in the sixth. Shelly Schultz drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a bunt. Candace Abrams then hit a ball to left. As Adams tried to stretch it to a double, Campbell's putout attempt sailed high, and Schultz came around to score the winning run. Arizona scored one more for insurance, making the final tally 6-4.

UNLV heads back on the road next week as it opens Mountain West Conference play. UNLV will face BYU on Thursday, April 1, before heading to Salt Lake City on Friday, April 2.