March 10, 2006
HONOLULU - Once again, the seventh inning became the nemesis of the UNLV softball team (12-11) on Friday morning in the Hawaiian Airlines Spring Fling Tournament. The Rebels held a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh only to see Penn State (12-3) load the bases and end the game in grand fashion with a 5-2 final score.
Zeroes dotted the scoreboard through five innings of play, until both teams scored in their final two frames. The Rebels took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth only to have the Nittany Lions match the run in the bottom of the inning. UNLV grabbed its second one-run lead in the seventh, but PSU managed to get four across on a two-out grand slam.
In the sixth, UNLV's Brittany Bolinger singled up the middle to start the offensive. Marissa Nichols advanced Bolinger to second on a sacrifice bunt. Brittany Freight dropped a single into right, which moved Bolinger to third. Maggie Livreri picked up the RBI on a ball hit to right field. Livreri was thrown out at first by the rightfielder.
PSU answered with its first run of the game with help from one hit and one Rebel error. The Nittany Lions put its first two hitters on with help from a bunt single and a misplayed catch on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Caitlyn Paus covering first base. On the error, the first runner went to third and came home on the second sacrifice bunt of the inning.
Kendall Fearn put the Rebels up 2-1 in the seventh thanks to her third home run knocked out of Rainbow Wahine Stadium.
The Nittany Lions recorded two singles and a walk to load the bases with one out. Shannon Crisp (5-6) got the fifth batter of the inning to pop up to Livreri at short, but the sixth batter hit a fly to left center only to have it clear the fence and end the game.
Crisp suffered the loss in throwing 6.2 innings. She allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits. She struck out five an walked two.
Missy Beseres (5-2) took the win for Penn State in the complete game effort. She allowed two runs on three this. She struck out nine Rebels, while walking two.
Up next for the Rebels is a contest against UC Santa Barbara. First pitch is scheduled for 4pm.
