May 20, 2005

Final Stats

Westwood, Calif. - For the second time this season, Ashley Van Boxmeer was too much for the No. 2 regional seed UNLV (43-18) as No. 3 regional seed Cal State Fullerton (29-19) won the first game of the NCAA Tournament's Region #7 bracket 5-4. The Rebels fell behind 4-0 through two innings, but rallied to tie the game up in the fifth with help from a two-run home run by Rosa Ordaz. Earlier in the game, Ordaz scored the first two Rebel runs with a double down the right field line. The momentum swung back to the Titans with Van Boxmeer's second home run of the game and fourth against UNLV this season.

In the second meeting between the Titans and Rebels, Van Boxmeer was the difference maker for CSUF, as she cranked two home runs on the day, similar to the two teams' first meeting in Palm Springs, Calif., earlier this season on Feb. 27.

Van Boxmeer's first inning home run put Fullerton up top 3-0 with a two-out three-run shot over the scoreboard in left field. On base for the home run was Lindsey Bashor and Candice Baker, who had reached on a bunt single and a hit-by-pitch, respectively.

Fullerton picked up a single run in the second on a solo home run from Crystal Vieyra. The home run from Vieyra cleared the left field fence and was her first of the season.

Jacque Kerrigan's day was done after two innings. Kerrigan gave up four runs and three hits, while picking up two strikeouts. Shannon Crisp (14-3) entered in the third and allowed one run on three hits. Crisp struck out four on the day.

In the bottom of the third, UNLV cut into the four-run deficit with a two-out two-run double into the right field corner by Rosa Ordaz. Scoring on the double was Caitlyn Paus and Brittany Meade. Paus had reached on a fielder's choice and moved to third on an error committed by Vieyra at third on a ball hit by Meade. The ball tipped off of Vieyra's glove and rolled into centerfield, allowing Meade to take second.

Ordaz wasn't done against Marissa Marzan's (14-5) pitching as she hit her second home run of the year in the fifth to erase the four-run deficit. For the second time on the day, Meade was brought in with Ordaz's hit. Meade had reached on a long single to left center before Ordaz deposited the hit over the left field scoreboard. The four RBI on the day are the most for Ordaz on the season.

The four-run rally tied the biggest for the Rebels on the season. On Feb. 4, against Utah State, UNLV trailed 5-1 through three and scored six in the fourth en route to a 10-7 win.

Van Boxmeer led off the sixth with her second home run of the day and fourth against UNLV pitching on the year. Van Boxmeer ended the game with a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and four RBI.

UNLV wasn't without chances to score in the game as they left eight on the base paths in the game, including two in the bottom of the sixth. Following Fullerton's go-ahead inning, Amber Campbell and Marissa Nichols reached base with help from a fielder's choice and a walk, respectively. With two outs, Caitlyn Paus had an opportunity to advance the runners, if not tie the game, but ended up striking out to end the inning. The strikeout ended Paus' day at the plate and ended her seven-game hitting streak.

UNLV will play the loser of the Tournament's #7 national seed and #1 regional seed UCLA or #4 regional seed Loyola Marymount at 12:30 pm Saturday afternoon.

Game Notes:

-For only the third time this season, UNLV is riding a losing streak. Coincidentally, the last losing streak for the Rebels this season came with losses to Texas A&M and Cal State Fullerton at the Palm Springs Classic in late February.

-In the NCAA Tournament, UNLV falls to 16-17 all-time in 33 games played. In the regionals, the Rebels are 13-11. Since Game 11 of the 1995 NCAA College World Series, UNLV is on a four-game losing streak. The Rebels lost two games in the 1996 regionals for losses #2 and #3 of the streak.

-In NCAA Tournament play, UNLV is 0-2 all-time against Cal State Fullerton: 0-1 in the WCWS and 0-1 in the regionals.

-For the first time this season, Marissa Nichols has gone hitless in back-to-back games. And in 61 games, has gone without a hit in only 11 of them.

-Morgan Bostwick moved into a first-place tie with Tricia Reimche with her 244th career game played.