March 24, 2005

Final Stats

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Ten runs were on the board before UNLV (20-11) allowed Illinois (13-9) its first of two unearned runs on day one at the Stanford Invitational. Jacque Kerrigan (13-10) entered the circle, in the bottom of the first, with a comfortable six-run lead before tossing her first pitch, en route to a 12-2 win. Marissa Nichols led the Rebel charge with a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate and was responsible for five of the season-high 12 runs on the day.

UNLV jumped out on Illinois with six runs on six hits in the first. Nichols began the game with a double to right. Brittany Freight, the reigning MWC Player of the Week, followed with an RBI-single down the left field line to plate Nichols. Caitlyn Paus singled towards second to put runners on first and second. Brittany Meade was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Following the first out of the inning, Morgan Bostwick singled to left to move all runners up a base and bring in the second run of the game. Rosa Ordaz walked an RBI home. Valerie Keeney plated two runners on an RBI-single to right and advanced to second on a fielding error by the Illini's right fielder.

With one out and runners in scoring position, the Illini replaced its starting pitcher, Mary Miller (8-4) with Claire DeVreese. Amber Campbell reached on a fielder's choice, but Ordaz was thrown out trying to score on the play. Nichols came up for the second time in the inning and singled to center to plate the final run of the inning.

In the second, four runs crossed home plate on two hits for the Rebels. Paus began the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Following two groundouts, Bostwick reached on an error by Illinois' short stop. Paus scored on the error. Ordaz singled up the middle to put runners on first and second. Bostwick and Ordaz were moved up a base thanks to a wild pitch. Keeney loaded the bases with a walk. Campbell brought in the second run of the inning when she was hit by a pitch. Nichols picked up two more RBI on her second single of the game.

After a scoreless third by UNLV, Illinois picked up its first run in the bottom half of the inning on a wild pitch by Kerrigan. The runner had reached on a throwing error and moved around the base paths due to the error and a single.

In the fifth, Nichols closed out her hitting exhibition with a two-run homer to centerfield. The home run was her seventh on the year and scored Ordaz from third. Ordaz began the inning with a single to right and was followed by consecutive ground outs.

Illinois picked up its second and final run in the bottom of the fifth. The Illini got back-to-back singles from its first two hitters on Becky McDonald. Each advanced on a throwing error by Pauline Glenn after the second single. A ground out to second plated the final run for the Illini.

UNLV will face #20/24 Northwestern at 1 p.m.

Game Notes:

>The 12 runs scored against Illinois are a season-high.

>The 11 RBI scored in the 12-2 victory are a season-high.

>Marissa Nichols and Brittany Freight have hit safely in six-straight games.

>Marissa Nichols four-hit performance is the second time she has done so on the year.