March 13, 2005
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - UNLV (16-10) was unable to catch the Minnesota Gophers (13-10) after the visitors put two runs on the board in the fifth for a 3-1 lead. Four Rebel errors helped Minnesota to a 5-2 victory in the Eller Media Stadium Classic. Only one of the five runs to cross home plate were earned. UNLV closes out the Classic with a 3-2 record, with wins over North Carolina State, Bowling Green and Pacific.
Minnesota opened up the scoring in the first inning when its leadoff batter, Stephanie Sward, singled to the short stop off of Shannon Crisp. Sward moved over to third on a ground out and a sacrifice bunt. The base runner scored the first run on a passed ball.
The Rebels countered with an opening double by Marissa Nichols, who was later given two intentional base on balls by Gopher pitching. Nichols advanced to third on a wild pitch by Mandy Valadez (1-2). Brittany Freight brought Nichols home on a sacrifice fly to left field.
The game remained tied at 1-1 until the fifth, when Jacque Kerrigan (11-10) relieved Crisp. Kerrigan allowed a one-out single to Sward. An attempted pick-off throw by UNLV's catcher, Maggie Livreri, was overthrown to first base and allowed Sward to settle at third base. Lindsey Erickson plated Sward on a fielder's choice at-bat. Sward slid in safely when Livreri was unable to handle the throw home. Erickson advanced to third on a ground out and a fielder's choice play. Erickson scored on the continuation of an error by Brittany Meade at third.
UNLV's rally in the bottom of the fifth was halted with two runners left on base. Valerie Keeney started the inning with a hit to Minnesota's first baseman, Rene Konderik. In an attempted tag on Keeney, the ball fell out of Konderik's glove for an error. Amber Campbell sacrificed Keeney to second. Nichols received the second of her free passes to first base to put runners at first and second. Freight knocked her second RBI of the game home on a double down the right field line. Keeney scored on the play and Nichols was held up at third. Lyn Peyer was summoned to the circle in relief of Valadez and proceeded to get Caitlyn Paus to fly out to end the inning.
In the seventh, Minnesota scored two insurance runs to push its lead to three runs. Megan Higgenbotham began the scoring with a one-out single. Rachel Keeney attempted to sacrifice Higgenbotham to second, but wound up one base herself. Keeney reached first on an error by Paus and Higgenbotham took third when the ball went down the right field foul territory. Val Alston's double to left brought the two runners home. Alston was thrown out after unsuccessfully returning to second base after she made the turn to third.
Up next for the Rebels, is a doubleheader on Tuesday against Long Island and Minnesota. The first game will begin at 3 pm.
Day Four (Sunday) at the Eller Media Stadium ClassicNew Mexico State 2, North Carolina State 1.Bowling Green 2, Pacific 1.Minnesota 5, UNLV 2.#1 Arizona 12,North Carolina State 3.Miami (Ohio) 7/Minnesota 3.#1 Arizona 6, Miami (Ohio) 1.
