March 25, 2005

Final Stats

PALO ALTO, Calif. - UNLV (23-11) used a 5-0 victory over Saint Mary's College (5-21) to improve to 4-0 at the Stanford Invitational. The Rebels recorded their sixth shutout of the season with the blanking of the Gaels. Becky McDonald notched her first win of the season, while allowing five hits in the complete game effort. Marissa Nichols extended her hitting streak to nine games with a double to begin the game.

Nichols belted a shot off the center field fence to start the bottom of the first. Brittany Freight advanced Nichols to third on a successful sacrifice bunt attempt. Nichols scored on a wild pitch by Megan Galloway (3-8) pitched to Caitlyn Paus.

Saint Mary's had their opportunities, but McDonald's pitching and the defense behind her helped end any hopes for runs. The Gaels left seven runners on the bases in the game, with their best opportunity coming in the third. After receiving two walks and a single, scattered around two outs, the Rebels got a ground out to end the inning.

Nichols completed her 2-for-2 performance at the plate with her ninth home run of the season and third of the Invitational. The homer sailed over the center field fence.

With two outs and a runner on first, Valerie Keeney singled up the middle to move Rosa Ordaz to second. Ordaz had previously reached on a one-out walk. Amber Campbell belted a hit to the right field fence that resulted in her first triple of the season. Campbell completed the scoring on another wild pitch by Galloway.

Up next for UNLV is Saturday's finale of the Stanford Invitational against the host and 5th-ranked Stanford Cardinal. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Smith Family Stadium.