April 23, 2006

Final Stats

Fort Collins, Colo. - The UNLV softball team (20-31, 5-9 MWC) split its Mountain West Conference doubleheader Sunday in Fort Collins, Colo., against Colorado State (23-19, 4-10 MWC). The Rebels survived a come back attempt by the Rams in game one and held on for a 6-5 win. Game two was a different story as the ball jumped off the home team's bats for a 9-2 win over UNLV.

In game one, the Rebels jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead with help from two runs in the first inning and another run in the second. CSU pulled within one run as they scored two in the fourth. UNLV pushed its lead to four with three runs in the sixth. The Rams answered back with two of their own in the bottom of the sixth. CSU loaded the bases up in the bottom of the seventh, but only managed to score one before the third out.

In the first inning, Maggie Livreri came around to score the game's first run on a fielder's choice ground out by Shannon Crisp. After touching third base to force Brittany Bolinger out, Lauren Cusick overthrew her first baseman. The errant throw allowed Livreri to score and Crisp to take second. Kendall Fearn brought Crisp home with a double to right center.

Sandy Nakamura opened up the second inning with a pinch-hit single up the middle. Britney Hillyer re-entered the game to run for Nakamura and took second on Caitlyn Paus' sacrifice bunt. A fly out to center by Bri Bernardi allowed Hillyer to move to third. Brittany Freight hit a single up the middle to score Hillyer.

CSU was held hitless by Crisp (9-13) through the first three innings, but rapped out three in fourth to score two. With Cusick sitting at first base, after a single, Julia Kloppe hit a two-run homer to right center.

In the sixth, Crisp opened the inning with a single up the middle. Kendall McSwain entered the game as a pinch-runner for Crisp and took third on a single by Fearn. With the throw going to third, Fearn took second. Rosa Ordaz brought McSwain home with a single. With Fearn and Ordaz on the corners, the runners attempted a double steal. Ordaz took second when the second baseman cut the ball off and threw home in an attempt to get Fearn. The throw sailed to the backstop and allowed Fearn to score easily. Paus brought Ordaz home with a single.

CSU scored two runs in the sixth after Crisp retired the first two batters. Cusick was then struck by a pitch and moved over to third on a double down the left field line by Kloppe. Katie Dean dropped a triple down the left field line to bring the Rams within two and prompt a pitching change for the Rebels. Becky McDonald came in and got a ground out to end the inning.

In the seventh, Stacey Leigh hit a one-out double to left center to begin the come back attempt. After a fly out, Tara Harbert walked. The walk brought about a pitching change and Christie Robinson took to the circle. Robinson walked Jessica Strickland to load the bases. Cusick then hit a grounder to Fearn, which was misplayed and allowed a run to score. Fearn redeemed herself by catching a line out off the bat of Kloppe.

Crisp took the win as she threw 5.2 innings. She allowed six hits and four runs, while striking out three. McDonald threw 1.0 inning and allowed one run on one hit. Robinson picked up her second save of the season, as she picked up the final out.

In game two, the contest went the way of the Rams. CSU scored in every inning with single runs in four of its six innings, three runs in the second and two in the fourth. The Rebels scored two runs in the game with single runs crossing the plate in the second and fifth innings.

UNLV came to bat down a run in the top of the second and managed to even the score with a run in the inning. Fearn knotted the score at 1-1 with a solo shot over the right field fence.

The Rams upped their lead to 7-1 through four innings of play. The Rebels got their second run in the fifth on an RBI-single up the middle by Livreri. Freight reached on a one-out single and moved into scoring position on a ground out.

CSU added two more runs to close out the game with the final seven-run margin at 9-2.

Robinson (6-11) suffered the loss as she threw 3.2 innings. She allowed six runs on nine hits and struck out one, while walking two. McDonald threw 2.1 innings and gave up three runs on four hits. She walked one and struck out one.

Next up for the Rebels is a doubleheader on the road at Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, April 27. First pitch is slated for 4 pm.