April 15, 2004

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The UNLV softball team rolled to a 6-1 victory over UC Riverside at Amy Harrison Field on Thursday.

The Rebels (22-25) scored once in the first and added five runs in the third to seal the victory against their last non-conference opponent of the year. The run support was more than enough for the pitching combo of Jacqueline Kerrigan (18-15) and Becky McDonald, who allowed just one run and four hits between them.

UNLV put a run on the board before the Highlanders (11-35) even stepped to the plate. Lisa Sampson kicked off a two-out rally with a single to left field. Kacey Ellis then drew a walk, putting Sampson in scoring position for Morgan Bostwick. Bostwick drove a shot into left to score Sampson and give the Rebels the early lead.

The third inning was the biggest for the Rebels. They managed to load the bases with just one out when Bostwick stepped in for her second at bat. And for the second straight time, she delivered an RBI single. Wendy Godwin and Pauline Glenn followed with RBIs of their own before Amber Campbell hit a two-out single to score two and put the Rebels on top 6-0.

Kerrigan was sharp throughout. She allowed leadoff singles in both the first and second innings, but left both runners stranded at third. She marched through the rest of the UCR order, keeping it scoreless after four innings.

In the fifth, McDonald relieved Kerrigan and sat the Highlanders in order. But in the sixth, UCR finally broke through as Melissa Sanchez hit a leadoff solo homer to centerfield. McDonald escaped the remaining hitters without incident, recording her first career save.

Sampson and Campbell were both 2-for-3 in the game while Campbell and Bostwick both drove in a pair of runs.

The Rebels continue their road swing through southern California on Friday with a pair of games at San Diego State at 1 p.m. PDT.