April 23, 2005

Final Stats

PROVO, Utah - In Saturday's second game at Gail Miller Field on the BYU campus, UNLV (35-16, 11-3 Mountain West Conference) jumped out to a 1-0 lead after its first at-bat, but it wasn't enough as BYU (35-10, 12-2 MWC) clawed its way back with two runs in the first and two more in the fourth for a 4-1 victory. More importantly, the loss dropped UNLV a game back of BYU for the conference lead, with six games remaining for each team. Shannon Crisp (11-2) suffered defeat for only the second time this season, both losses coming in league play. The loss snapped the Rebels' winning streak at six games.

UNLV carried over its hot hitting from game one, with two hits in the first inning. Brittany Meade reached on an error by BYU's Jodi Norton at short. Maggie Livreri singled up the middle to move Meade to third. Brittany Freight took advantage of the runners on base and nailed a double down the right field line to bring Meade home. Livreri stopped at third and was unable to score when the third out was recorded.

BYU took its first lead of the day with a lead off single by Lauren Watson-Perry. Krystle Chamberlain reached on a fielding error by Caitlyn Paus. Chamberlain attempted to sacrifice bunt, but it turned into a successful attempt when Paus failed to catch Meade's throw to first. After an out and a walk, the bases were loaded for Ashlyn Russell. Russell promptly laced a single to right center to bring home Watson-Perry and Chamberlain.

The score remained a 2-1 game, until the fourth when a two-run homer by Debbie Dodds pushed the game to its final three-run margin. Jen Whiteley began the inning with a bunt single. A sacrifice bunt by Jodi Norton pushed Whiteley to second. Dodds homer followed to bring Whiteley home.

Jacque Kerrigan came in to pitch the fifth and sixth innings and kept the Cougars hitless in the two frames. Kerrigan walked one and struck out one, while Crisp tossed the opening four innings. Crisp gave up four runs (three earned) and six hits in the losing effort.

The Rebels paced the Cougars hit-for-hit with six apiece, but BYU lead in the category that counted most, the runs scored.

Up next for UNLV is a trip to San Diego to play conference foe, San Diego State next Saturday, April 30.