March 19, 2006
Final Stats
Huntington Beach, Calif. - The Rebels (13-19) came close to knotting the score in the top of the seventh with runners on the corners, but a fielder's choice ground out ended the offensive threat and gave #10/11 Louisiana-Lafayette (23-3) the 7-6 win. The Ragin' Cajuns picked up their seven runs on two hits and help from three UNLV errors. Four of ULL's runs came off of a grand slam, while all but one Rebel run came from the long ball.
UNLV took an early 1-0 lead in the third after receiving a bases loaded walk to Maggie Livreri to score Becky McDonald from third. With one out, McDonald sliced a double down to the right field corner. She went to third when Brittany Freight took first on an errant throw on a ball hit to third base. Freight stole second, prior to Brittany Bolinger reaching on the first of two walks issued by Krystal Lewallen (13-2) in the inning. Livreri took the second base on balls. Lewallen got out of the jam by striking out Shannon Crisp for the third out.
ULL was able to load the bases in its half of the third and clear them on a grand slam to right center hit by Holly Tankersley. The Ragin' Cajuns scored their four runs on one hit. A fielder's choice, a fielding error and a walk loaded the bases for the slam.
The Rebels got two runs back in the fourth on a Caitlyn Paus two-run home run. Kendall Fearn led off the inning with a double to right field.
In the fifth inning, with Crisp in the circle, ULL expanded its lead to 7-3 with three runs on one hit and one Rebel error. The Cajuns got a walk to start their half of the inning. The runner moved up to third on a dropped fly ball hit to Kelly Griego in left, while the batter took second. A fielder's choice grounder hit to Paus was slow enough to get the first run of the inning home. A wild pitch allowed for the second run. A single hit into the hole at short was deep enough for the third run to score, but Livreri was able to field the ball and throw home to get a runner out at home.
The Rebels battled back with three runs in the sixth on three hits. Crisp hit a chopper over the first baseman's head to begin the inning, but a fielder's choice put out wiped out Rosa Ordaz pinch running for her. With Fearn on first, Paus singled to center to put two runners on. Griego's spot in the batting order was up and in her second at-bat of the year, she deposited Lewallen's offering over the fence in right center.
Only one of ULL's seven runs were earned. Christie Robinson (4-7) took the loss for UNLV as she allowed four runs (one earned) in 3.0 innings of work. Shannon Crisp took over in the fourth and surrendered three runs. Becky McDonald threw a scoreless sixth inning.
Lewallen went the distance for ULL. She gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits. She struck out nine, while walking three.
Next up for UNLV is another trip on the road as they face Arizona State in a doubleheader next Friday, March 24. First pitch is slated to be thrown at 11 am. The Rebels return home that following Monday, March 27 for a three-game series against the Missouri Tigers.
