Feb. 20, 2005
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - Offense was at a premium Sunday in the final two games of the UNLV Invitational at Eller Media Stadium. The final two contests matched the Rebels (8-5) against the #1-ranked California Golden Bears and Michigan State Spartans. In all, UNLV totaled four hits and four total runs scored in the two games.
With California (5-0) coming off a 13-0 run-ruled affair against Michigan State, the Rebels were able to lessen Cal's offensive production to only two runs. In the second inning, Cal jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two outs had been recorded. With a runner on first base, Jacque Kerrigan (7-4) walked three-consecutive batters forcing home a runner for the first score of the game. A single through the right side followed to plate the second run. Kerrigan was able to get a groundout to end the inning with Cal leaving the bases loaded.
The Rebels struck for a run and their only hits of the game in the fifth. Their attempt at a rally was halted with runners at second and third. Kelly Anderson (2-0) walked Maggie Livreri to start the frame. Brittany Meade followed with a single to center. Amber Campbell ran for Livreri and moved to second. Danielle Martinez smashed an RBI-double to right field scoring Campbell. Meade stopped at third on the play. Pinch-hitter Pauline Glenn hit a ball to the right side which Cal's second baseman fielded and threw home to get Meade out at home. Glenn moved second on a groundout to the pitcher, but the inning ended with runners in scoring position.
Against the Spartans (1-3), UNLV jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after the first inning. With the bases loaded, Martinez came to the plate to record her third-RBI in as many games. Two of her three RBI have come by way of bases loaded walks. That was the only run the Rebels would score until the fourth.
MSU struck for two runs and the lead in the second. With runners on second and third, a ball was hit to Martinez who threw home. She was credited with an error as the ball was in the dirt and uncatchable. Both runners scored on the play giving MSU its only lead of the game.
In the top of the fourth, Shannon Crisp (1-0) entered the circle for the first-time as a Rebel. Crisp threw four scoreless innings of relief for the comeback win after taking over for Becky McDonald.
In the bottom half of the fourth, UNLV scored the tying run on Marissa Nichols' double to left bringing Martinez home. Martinez led off the inning with a walk and moved up to second when Joanna Jackson was hit by a pitch.
The Rebels scored the winning run in the sixth on Meade's RBI-single through the right side. Glenn scored the winning run as she reached second on a throwing error by the Spartans' shortstop.
In the top of the seventh, the Spartans made it eventful as Crisp put the first two runners on base by hitting the first batter and walking the second. With the third-spot in the order up, Dayna Feenstra lined a shot to Paus at second who doubled off the runner at first. With two out, MSU got a single to push the trying run to third. Crisp recorded the final out herself as she got the batter to popup to her.
Up next for the Rebels is their first road trip of the season. UNLV will play in the Palm Springs Classic (Feb. 25-27)hosted by Oregon State, in Palm Springs, Calif. UNLV will face Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Bethune Cookman, Texas A&M and Cal State Fullerton in the three-day event.
