April 30, 2005
Final Stats
SAN DIEGO - Marissa Nichols only hit of the game turned out to be the game-winner for UNLV (37-16, 13-3 Mountain West Conference) in its 1-0 game two victory over San Diego State (23-27, 1-15 MWC) at the SDSU Softball Stadium Saturday. Nichols unleashed a home run to center field for her 15th of the season. Shannon Crisp (12-2) held up the one-run lead through 6.1 innings of work, while Jacque Kerrigan got the final two outs for her fifth save of the year.
A total of five hits were recorded in the game with UNLV taking three of them. Nichols, Brittany Meade and Valerie Keeney had the Rebel hits, while SDSU's were put in play by Bree Boyer and Dani Sidoti.
The Aztecs came close to scoring in the second when they loaded the bases with one out, but were unable to score before back-to-back ground outs to Amber Campbell at short. Kristen Carranza reached on a throwing error by Crisp. Carranza took second when the throw went into UNLV's dugout. Taryin Casillas sacrificed Carranza to third with a bunt to Meade at third. Back-to-back walks to Megan McDonald and Lacey Craft. Sidoti reached on a fielder's choice ground out. Campbell threw home to force Carranza at the plate. Jamie Burton, pinch-running for McDonald, moved to third and Craft took second on the play. Tamani Wells ended the inning with the second ground out to Campbell.
Nichols put the Rebels ahead her one-out shot to center in the third. Meade picked up a two-out single in the inning, as well, but was left stranded when the third out was recorded.
SDSU made the game interesting in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Craft reached on a fielding error by Caitlyn Paus at second base. Erin Mahoney entered the game to pinch-run for Craft, as Danielle Touhey pinch-hit for Sidoti. Touhey reached on a fielder's choice as Paus committed her second error of the inning when she overthrew second base in an attempt to force Mahoney at second. With more changes to the Aztec lineup, Kerrigan came in to relieve Crisp, as pinch-hitter Amanda Beasley came to the plate and Meagan Hartung pinch-ran for Touhey. Kerrigan got Beasley to ground out to Campbell, while Meagan Hartung and Mahoney moved into scoring position. Bree Boyer walked to load the bases. Kerrigan got Chrissie Markham to foul out to third to end the scoring threat and the game.
Game Notes:
-UNLV's 37 wins are tied for fifth-most in school history. The Rebels sit 21-games over .500, which is third-best since the program resumed in 1985. With a 37-16 record, the Rebels have a 69% winning percentage, which comes in a tie at #3.
-With the two wins against SDSU, UNLV has now swept two season series this spring. They took all four against Utah and today, completed a four-game sweep of the Aztecs.
-UNLV was swept in four games last season by SDSU. The Rebels' previous best against SDSU was a four-game split (two apiece) in 2001.
-Marissa Nichols moved into a second-place tie with Kim Rondina for the most home runs hit in a single-season (15). Rondina holds two slots at #2 with her 15 hit in 1995 and 1997.
-Jacque Kerrigan sits in fifth-place with 44 appearances on the year. She becomes the single-season saves leader by picking up #5 in game two.
-In the career category, Kerrigan moved into a first-place tie with Lori Harrigan (1989-92) for the most appearances (161) in the circle. She sits tied with Amie Stewart (1992-95) for the most career saves (11).
