April 16, 2004

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

SAN DIEGO - The UNLV softball team dropped two heartbreaking Mountain West Conference games at San Diego State, falling 1-0 and 4-1 at SDSU Field on Friday.

The Rebels (22-25, 4-6) were competing strongly in both pitchers' duels before a couple of simple mistakes proved opportunistic for the Aztecs (29-18, 8-2). The sweep allowed SDSU to increase its lead in the MWC standings.

Jacqueline Kerrigan (18-16) started the opener, squaring off with the talented Cori Janelli (9-8). Both pitchers were exceptional and backed by solid defense as they marched through the first three innings in a rhythmic pace.

After cruising through the order once, Kerrigan faced leadoff hitter Meagan Hartung with one out in the bottom of the third. Hartung fired a shot down the third base line, good for a double, and advanced to third on a bunt. Kerrigan then walked the next batter to put two aboard for cleanup hitter Kelcy Murphy. Murphy battled Kerrigan for a moment before sending a high drive deep down the first base line. On a dead spring, right fielder Brittany Freight made a basket catch two steps into foul territory to escape the jam.

SDSU came right back as Joann Figueroa led off the bottom of the fourth with a drive to right. The Aztecs then dropped one of their four perfect sac bunts on the day to push Figueroa into scoring position. Kerrigan struck out the next batter and faced catcher Danielle Touhey with two outs. Touhey hit a sharp drive up the middle, sending second baseman Morgan Bostwick to her right. Bostwick made a great backhanded stab, but had to rush the throw to nab the speedy Touhey and end the inning. The throw came in too low and got away from Kacey Ellis, neither nabbing the batter Touhey nor stopping Figueroa from rounding third for the easy score.

After getting the lead, Janelli retired the Rebels in order in the fifth and dispatched two in the sixth before Freight broke up the string with a line drive to right field. She then made an easy steal of second, but was baited into trying for third on an errant throw from the catcher. Aztec centerfield Janna Kovensky caught up with the wild throw quickly and snapped a toss to third just in time to nab Freight.

The Rebels made another run at scoring in the seventh. Janelli recorded the first two outs of the inning before surrendering a single to Bostwick, her second of the Rebels' four hits. Wendy Godwin then hit a ground ball to short that was misplayed, giving the Rebels two base runners. Both coaches turned to the bench as UNLV inserted Joanna Jackson and Christy Tennes to run while SDSU called Celena Velasquez out of the bullpen. Velasquez recorded her third save of the year when she forced Pauline Glenn to pop out for the third out of the inning.

The Rebels did finally get on the scoreboard, but it wasn't until Game Two. SDSU's Deanna Richards started the game strongly, sitting the first six batters she faced. But Glenn broke up the string, leading off the third with an infield single. She was replaced first by Carly Petracco and then by Amber Campbell on consecutive fielder's choices before Bridget Byrne poked a single through the left side. With two aboard, the speedy Freight hit a ball toward the hole on the right side. Figueroa, the SDSU second baseman, moved to her left to get the ball, then made a quick flip to first that was off target. Campbell had already rounded third and quickly scooted home after spotting the loose ball.

Rebel starter Becky McDonald (2-4) made the lead stand up until the bottom of the fourth. Figueroa started the inning with a single, and in predictable fashion, took second on a sac bunt. While pitching to Touhey, McDonald threw one in the dirt that careened off the shin guard of catcher Petracco. Figueroa was at third by the time Petracco tracked the loose ball down, and in the next instant, both players seemingly realized that home was left uncovered. Both the fielder and runner raced for the plate, diving and crashing into one another in a close play. Figueroa was ruled safe, and Petracco left the game with jammed fingers.

In the fifth inning, SDSU took its second lead of the day on a Rebel fielding error. Two unearned runs scored, giving the Aztecs a lead they would never squander. They added a third unearned run in the sixth to seal the 4-1 win.

Despite two losses, the Rebel pitching staff was tagged for just one earned run on the day. But the offense produced only seven hits in two games, allowing the Aztecs to extend their MWC home winning streak to 15 games.

UNLV will hit the road again this week for league doubleheaders at Colorado State on Friday, April 24 and at New Mexico on Sunday, April 26.