May 8, 2005
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - In their final game at Eller Media Stadium, the four seniors that have stuck around since the stadium opened in 2001 were given a proper send off. The Rebels (41-16, 17-3 MWC) struck for six unanswered runs from the third inning on to take the series with conference foe, New Mexico (15-32, 5-15 MWC), three games to one. UNLV got timely hitting and breaks on both sides of the ball for its 7-2 win. The victory will go down as the last of the regular season, as the Rebels will travel to San Diego this week for the 2005 Mountain West Conference Tournament as the two seed.
Shannon Crisp (14-2) was touched for two runs in the second inning, but that is all the freshman would give up in six innings of work. Her teammates turned a 2-1 deficit around to the five-run winning margin before she exited to allow Becky McDonald to finish out the ball game.
The Rebels gave Crisp a one-run lead on Caitlyn Paus' RBI-single to the hole at short stop on an offering from Katie Gregg (8-5). Marissa Nichols scored on the single. Nichols had reached on a single of her own and stole the first of three bases on the day to add to her single-season total of 33-perfect attempts. As Nichols slid into second the throw from the catcher sailed into right field and Nichols set Paus up by moving to third on the error. Maggie Livreri recorded a single, following a double play by the Lobos.
New Mexico struck for their only lead of the game with two runs in the second inning. Crisp served up back-to-back hits for UNM's only offensive production in the game. With one out, Christina Rios doubled to the fence in left. Rios came home to score on a home run hit by Liz Young to left. Crisp settled down to get the next two batters to end the inning.
UNLV tied things up with a two-out single by Livreri. Nichols began the inning with her second of three singles in the game. Nichols tagged up on a foul out by Paus near the UNLV dugout. Meade hit a ground out that UNM's first baseman was unable to field cleanly, luckily for the Lobos, Kristina Schmallen backed her up on the play to touch first base, but not before Nichols took third. Livreri came up next and delivered with her single to even the game up.
In the fifth inning, Morgan Bostwick showed off her glove work with a diving catch towards home plate in fair territory on a pop up hit by Ashley Shartzer. Bostwick got up on her knees to catch Amy Ray too far off first to double her up with a throw to Paus.
The tie came to an end with two runs on two hits in the fifth. With one out, Nichols reached on a fielder's choice and swiped second base to put herself in scoring position for Paus' ninth home run of the season. Paus smashed the ball well past the outer fence of the stadium, for her ninth game-winning hit of the season.
In Crisp's final inning of work, Bostwick came up big once again ending the Lobos scoring rally with a double-play. After back-to-back singles and a sac bunt, Bostwick caught a foul pop up and threw home to get Ashley Allen attempting to score from third.
In the bottom frame of the sixth, UNLV tacked three more runs on the board off of UNM reliever Caley Peterson. The Rebels knocked five hits around the field to earn those three runs. Sandy Nakamura came off the bench to get her first career hit as a Rebel. Nakamura nailed a double to the fence in right center. Valerie Keeney replaced Nakamura on the base paths and scored on Bostwick's single through the right side. After an out had been recorded, Amber Campbell singled to the short stop, pushing Britney Hillyer to second base. Hillyer had reached on a fielder's choice. Campbell and Hillyer were put in scoring position on a passed ball. Nichols singled home Hillyer, which moved Campbell to third. With Paus at the plate, Nichols took her third swipe of second base. Paus plated the final of her four RBI on the day with a single back up the middle to bring home Campbell.
McDonald closed out the seventh inning with a 1-2-3 inning.
Game Notes:
-The 2005 Rebels took sole possession of 3rd-place when it comes to single-season victories. UNLV sits at 41 in 56 games played. The Rebels are third in the largest margin of games over the .500 mark with a +25. Their winning percentage is third-highest, as well, at 72%.
-In the single-season offensive record books, Nichols sits atop the most runs scored (62) and stolen bases (33) categories. She is second in batting average (.440), hits (84), doubles (16), triples (8), slugging percentage (.843) and total bases (161). She is 5th in RBI with 43. She sits in career categories at #8 in triples (8), #8 in home runs (15) and #6 in stolen bases (33).
-Paus surpassed Nichols in the team-lead in RBI today. Currently, Paus is tied in 2nd-place with 44 single-season RBI.
-Maggie Livreri moved into the top-10 of the single-season walks chart with her 25th today.
-Morgan Bostwick sits in third-place in career games played with 240. She trails second-place by two games. Bostwick, also, moved up the career at-bats list to #9 (650) and hits (178).
