March 5, 2004

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The UNLV softball team committed four errors in the fifth inning and allowed eight runs to Tennessee Tech, who cruised to a 10-0 victory at the Speedline Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex on Friday.

The Rebels (10-11) collected just three hits in the game, two from leadoff hitter Bridget Byrne. Morgan Bostwick delivered the other to stretch her hitting streak to nine games.

But the rest was all Tennessee Tech (8-4). The Golden Eagles scored twice in the second and never looked back, using a leadoff double, a hit batsman and a double steal to manufacture the lead.

That was all Eagle starter Lori Bayless (2-2) needed as the Rebels struggled at the plate.

Kacey Ellis (1-3) put together a solid outing through four innings, scattering three hits. But after a hot fifth inning was prolonged by missed fielding opportunities, the Eagles began to pick up her speed. TTU scored eight runs in the inning, all unearned, on six hits.

UNLV's hopes of winning the pool portion of the tournament play remain intact, but it will need two wins on Saturday over Western Michigan and Illinois. The games are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. ET, respectively.