Feb. 13, 2005
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The Rebels' softball game could go down as something eerily similar to that of the fairy tale, Cinderella. UNLV (5-2) began its game Saturday night and held a 1-0 lead until the clock struck midnight and the Rebels' fortunes were turned around. Oregon State (4-2), ranked 16th by the USA Today/NFCA poll, turned the possible UNLV win into a 2-1 loss Sunday morning.
With the Jim Rogers Field at Eller Media Stadium in good condition after Friday's constant rains. All six games went off without a hitch, except for the length of time that it took for them to be played. UNLV began the final contest of the night at 11 pm and ended at 1:10 am.
For the third-straight game, UNLV jumped out to an early lead after the first inning, but tonight the lead couldn't be held until the final out was recorded. It was also the first one-run game that UNLV has lost.
Marissa Nichols (3-for-4 in the game) led off with a double to right field. With Caitlyn Paus follwing Nichols to the plate, OSU's Brianne McGowan (3-0), was called for an illegal pitch and moved Nichols to third. Paus eventually reached on a walk. Shannon Crisp followed with another walk to load the bases. A wild pitch was uncorked to Morgan Bostwick and allowed Nichols to score.
Jacque Kerrigan held the opposing hitters at bay until the sixth when she walked the leadoff hitter and eventually allowed the runner to score on a throwing error to first. Back-to-back sacrifice bunts and the error moved the runner up a base and across home plate.
The Beavers tacked on the winning run in the seventh with two doubles.
UNLV had the opportunity to tie and possibly win the game in the bottom of the seventh with two out, but was to unable to bring the runners home. Danielle Martinez began the inning with a walk. Amber Campbell was summoned to run for Martinez and eventually made her way to third after a single by Nichols and a ground out by Paus. Down to her final strike, Brittany Freight hit a grounder to the shortstop who nearly misfielded the ball, but was able to throw to first in time to end the game.
Next up for the Rebels is a doubleheader against Central Florida (4:30 pm) and Hawaii (6:00 pm) at EMS. All of Sunday's games have been changed to accomodate teams getting in one or two games due to their travel plans.
