Feb. 25, 2006
Final Stats
Palm Springs, Calif. - The UNLV softball team (7-8) suffered two losses at the Palm Springs Classic on Saturday at the Big League Dreams Sports Complex. The Rebels held a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh against #8/8 Texas A&M Aggies, but a three-run walkoff home run made for a 5-3 final score. In the second game, #4/4 Texas Longhorns put up an early four runs and managed to hold on for the remainder of the game for a 4-0 final score.
The Aggies took a 2-0 lead following sacrifice fly outs in the first and third innings.
The Rebels evened the score up at 2-2 in the fourth with two runs on one hit and two errors by the Aggie defense. Brittany Freight opened up the inning with a single to left and moved to third after stealing second and taking third on a throwing error by A&M's catcher. Kendall Fearn hit a fielder's choice grounder which caught Freight in a rundown between third and home. Freight got back safely to third and Fearn took second on the play. Becky McDonald struck out, but took first when strike three was a wild pitch. Freight scored on the pitch and Fearn went to third. Sandy Nakamura brought Fearn home with a grounder hit to the second baseman.
In the fifth, the Rebels manufactured their go-ahead run with a single to left by Maggie Livreri. Shannon Crisp laid down a sac bunt to push Livreri to second. Freight moved Livreri to third on a grounder to second. Caitlyn Paus brought the run home on a single to left.
The Aggies got a single to start their seventh and then had back-to-back strikeouts. A walk put runners at first and second for the three-run heroics.
Kelly Griego (0-3) suffered the loss in her 2.0 inning relief effort. Christie Robinson got the start for the Rebels and went 4.1 innings. She struck out six, while allowing six hits and walking two.
In the nightcap, the Longhorns scored one in the first and three in the second for the only runs of the game. The first run crossed on a bases loaded walk issued by Shannon Crisp (4-2). The three third inning runs came across on three hits and an error.
Cat Osterman got the start for Texas and in the third inning broke the NCAA all-time record with her 1,774th career strikeout. She threw three innings and earned a no decision as she left before she could earn the victory, which went to Meagan Denny (7-1). Between the two Longhorn hurlers, the Rebels recorded only one hit, which was a double by Shannon Crisp in the second.
Up next for UNLV is its final game of the Classic with a 9am contest with Ohio State.
