May 6, 2004
Box Score
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV softball team split its Mountain West Conference doubleheader against BYU on Thursday, winning the opener 3-2 before dropping the nightcap 10-4 at Eller Media Stadium.
The Rebels (23-34, 5-13) ended a 10-game league losing streak with their victory in the day's first game. They came from behind to win for only the third time this season, rallying from a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
The game was a pitchers' duel through five innings. Rebel starter Jacqueline Kerrigan battled BYU's Brooke Boyce (12-8), and neither team scored until the Cougars (32-17, 9-8) broke through in the top of the fifth.
Kerrigan issued a leadoff single and a walk before recording the first out. A double steal put both runners into scoring position, but the Rebels caught a break when Jen Whiteley hit into a fielder's choice. Shortstop Amber Campbell threw home to get the second out.
Just as it looked like the Rebels might escape trouble, the next BYU batter, Paige Paramore, smacked a double into the right-center gap that scored two.
After UNLV stranded two more in the bottom of the inning, Kacey Ellis (3-9) came in to pitch in relief. She gave up only a single in the inning.
The offense was kind to Ellis, bouncing back for three in the sixth. Brittany Freight and Lisa Sampson began the inning with back-to-back singles, then hit a stroke of luck as Ellis laid down a sac bunt. BYU misplayed the putout, throwing the ball into right field as two runs came around to score.
Ellis made her way all the way to third on the play, and came home to score the winning run on the next batter. Morgan Bostwick hit a shot up the middle. She was robbed of a hit by a diving stop by Cougar second baseman Kate Walker, but still managed to drive the winning run home.
UNLV was not as fortunate in the nightcap as the Cougars pounded out nine hits. BYU did most of its damage late in the game, scoring six runs in the last two innings.
The Rebels enjoyed a short lead in the game, scoring two unearned runs in the bottom of the first. But it was BYU's turn for a comeback as the Cougars hit two doubles in the third and scored three times.
The game remained close until the sixth when BYU sent 11 hitters to the plate. A leadoff error followed by a single put two aboard for Ashlyn Russell. Russell then drove a long ball to deep center to put BYU ahead 7-2.
BYU continued to pour on the offense in the inning, scoring two more unearned runs.
Although the lead was insurmountable, UNLV added a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh on a pinch-hit home run by Amy Lewis, the first of her career.
The Rebels will play their final home games of the regular season on Saturday, May 8, when they host the University of Utah in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Eller Media Stadium.
