Feb. 19, 2006
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The Rebels (6-5) closed out its five-game set at the 2006 Louisville Slugger Desert Classic with a split in its two games Sunday at Eller Media Stadium. UNLV fought back from three-run and four-run deficits to take an eight inning 9-8 win over Kansas (4-5), but was struggled in a 13-2 loss to #8/6 California (8-3).
In game one, KU put up a three-spot in the first inning, but UNLV matched it with three runs on two hits. The Rebels loaded the bases on a single by Marissa Nichols, an error on a bunt attempt by Brittany Freight and a walk to Jaci Hull. Maggie Livreri brought in the first run on a sac fly to left. Rosa Ordaz singled to center and put two more runs on the board.
UNLV took its first lead in the fifth on a fielding error by the KU shortstop. Back-to-back walks to Hull and Livreri put two runners on. Shannon Crisp hit the misplayed grounder which brought Hull home and gave the Rebels a 4-3 lead.
KU evened things up in the sixth on a solo home run and took a four-run lead in the seventh on a grand slam. UNLV had recorded two quick outs on two pitches, but gave up a double, a walk and an intentional base on balls to load them for Serena Settlemier's bases clearing homer.
The Rebels knotted the game up with four runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh. Caitlyn Paus began the rally with a single up the middle and was followed by a two-run home run by Crisp. The offensive kept going with a single, a walk and an intentional base on balls. KU's Kassie Humphrey's managed to bring pull the Rebels even with a hit-by-pitch and a walk. The inning ended with the bases loaded.
The international tiebreaker was put into effect in the eighth inning and UNLV took advantage of it. KU left its runner stranded at third, while the Rebels loaded the bases for Kendell Fearn to hit a single to left for the winning run.
Crisp (3-1) was credited with the win in 1.1 innings of relief work. Settlemeier (2-2) began the contest as KU's starter, but re-entered following UNLV tying the game up in the seventh and took the loss.
In game two, Cal managed to put runs up on the scoreboard in every inning of the run-ruled contest. The Golden Bears got one across in the first and added two more in the second, four in each of the third and fourth innings and two in the fifth. The early lead was all that Kristina Thorson needed to blank UNLV through four. The Rebels doubled their hit total to six with three in the fifth and brought two runs in on a double to left by Livreri.
After two weeks at home, UNLV hits the road for the Palm Springs Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., on Feb. 24-26. On deck for the Rebels are four straight Big 12 squads (Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Texas). The fifth opponent for UNLV is Ohio State from the Big 10.
