March 6, 2004

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The UNLV softball team lost to Illinois, 6-0, and claimed the No. 4 seed out of Pool C at the Speedline Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex on Saturday.

The Rebels (10-13) managed just five hits and could not push a run across against the Illini (13-3-1). Meanwhile, Illinois clawed nine hits away from the Rebel pitchers, scoring twice in the first and four more in the fourth.

The Illini got a leadoff single from Lindsey Hamma, followed by a bunt single from Rachelle Coriddi to put two aboard to start the game. After a wild pitch from Rebel starter Jacqueline Kerrigan (9-9), a single by UI's Jenna Hall brought home both runs.

UNLV came out string in the first, also, getting singles from Brittany Freight and Morgan Bostwick with one out. Bostwick's hit, a line drive to centerfield, extended her hitting streak to a season best 11 games. Both runners advanced on Lisa Sampson's sacrifice bunt, but were left stranded when Kacey Ellis struck out to end the inning.

Illinois starter Sherri Taylor then bore down, retiring 11 of the next 13 batters she faced. Only a walk in the second and an error in the third put Rebels on the bases.

Illinois tacked on some more runs in the fourth. With one out, back-to-back singles put runners at the corners. Then catcher Janna Sartini laid down a suicide squeeze bunt, and the lead runner was called safe on a bang-bang play at the plate despite a glove-hand flip on the spot from Pauline Glenn. Hamma followed with an RBI single when the Rebels turned to the bullpen.

In relief, Ellis looked sharp, allowing just two hits and no runs in more than three innings of work.

With the loss, the Rebels complete round-robin pool play with a 2-3 mark and claim the No. 4 seed in Pool C. They advance to Sunday's bracket play, where they will face Boston University, the No. 4 seed from Pool D, at 9:00 a.m. ET. A win would advance them to an 11:00 a.m. matchup against either Mercer or Rutgers, while a loss would end the tournament.