March 5, 2006
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (10-10) fell to .500 on the season for the second time with its 2-1 loss to Virginia Tech (14-2) on Sunday morning at the UNLV Invitational. The Hokies held a 2-0 lead until the Rebels got their only run in the bottom of the fifth, before being run out of the inning. UNLV had another opportunity to even the score in the sixth, but failed to bring the run home.
In the first inning, Erin Ota reached on a bunt single to UNLV's Shannon Crisp (5-5) and took second when an errant throw went into first base foul territory. She came around to score on a single up the middle by Stephanie Savre.
The Hokies added to their lead in the third with a run off of two hits. Callie Rhodes hit a one-out single to Maggie Livreri at short and stole second with Ota at the plate. Kelly Brown followed Ota's flyout with a single to Caitlyn Paus at second.
UNLV scored its only run in the fifth off of a single down the right field line by Brittany Freight. Becky McDonald took first on a leadoff walk issued by Angela Tincher (8-0). McDonald took second on a wild pitch. With two out, Marissa Nichols took first on a walk. Freight followed with her cue shot over the first base bag which scored McDonald. Freight took the turn to second and was caught in a rundown. Prior to Nichols touching home plate for the equalizing run, Freight was tagged out by the shortstop.
The Rebels had their chance to knot the score at 2-2 in the sixth, but a double play ended the threat. Livreri opened the inning by being hit by a pitch. She took second on a wild pitch. Crisp took first on a walk and was subsequently pinch ran for by Bri Bernardi. Kendall Fearn moved Livreri and Bernardi into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Paus came up and popped up a bunt to Charisse Mariconda at third. Mariconda then turned and threw to her shortstop, Alisia Narodowski, who was covering third and doubled off Livreri.
Tincher recorded the win with the complete game effort, while striking out 10 Rebels and walking three. She surrendered one run on three hits.
Crisp went the distance in the loss. She gave up two runs (one earned) in her 7.0 innings of work and struck out five.
The Rebels are back to close out the Invitational with the a game versus Southern Utah scheduled for 3pm Sunday afternoon.
