March 7, 2004

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. - An Amber Campbell triple in the second inning scored the winning runs as the UNLV softball team defeated Rutgers 5-1 in the fourth-place bracket championship game at the Speedline Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex on Sunday.

Campbell's triple capped a two-out rally for the Rebels (12-13), who led 1-0 and had two runners aboard. The line drive shot to right center scored two, giving the Rebels a lead that would never be threatened.

Rutgers (6-7) did answer the score with a run in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff single moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Starter Jacqueline Kerrigan (11-9) walked the next batter to put two aboard. After Campbell snagged a line drive at shortstop for the second out, the Scarlet Knights' Jenny Card belted a pitch into left field. The runner from second came around to score, but as the throw approached home, the other runner was caught between second and third. Rebel catcher Brittany Hillyer ran her down before a well-executed pickle play ended the inning.

Campbell handled another lineout in the third with bases loaded to prevent runs from scoring before coming back in the fourth with her second hit of the game.

UNLV carried the 3-1 lead into the fifth. Morgan Bostwick, who saw an 11-game hitting streak snapped in the day's first game, started a new streak with a leadoff double down the left field line. She moved to third on a Kacey Ellis single and came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Pauline Glenn.

The Rebels manufactured a final run in the sixth on a perfectly played squeeze bunt. Carly Petracco singled to put a leadoff runner aboard. She was erased and replaced on Campbell's fielder's choice, but a subsequent Bridget Byrne double gave UNLV two runners in scoring position. Brittany Freight then laid down a perfect bunt as Campbell raced home before Rutgers could make a play.

Kerrigan completed her second game of the day and fourth of the tournament, scattering seven hits by the Knights.

The Rebels return to Las Vegas from Clearwater, Fla., to host their fourth and final tournament of the year. The UNLV Tournament II will be played from Friday, March 12 through Sunday, March 14 at Eller Media Stadium, and features UNLV, Jacksonville, Long Island, Oregon and Southern Utah.