April 29, 2006
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV softball team (22-33, 6-10 MWC) split its Mountain West Conference doubleheader against #24 San Diego State (28-9, 13-1 MWC) in Las Vegas, Nev., on Saturday evening. The Rebels had their chances in game one, but dropped the contest by a 3-0 score. Game two went the way of UNLV, as the team plated five runs for a 7-1 win.
On the day, UNLV scattered 18 hits to SDSU's 12. Brittany Bolinger went 5-for-8 (.625) at the plate with two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored. The Aztecs were led by Monica Alnes' effort at the dish. Alnes knocked in all four runs the team scored in a 3-for-5 day.
In game one, the Rebels collected 10 hits and put 11 runners on base, but failed to push any safely to home plate. On four occasions the team left two runners on base and left three runners stranded at third base when the third out was tallied.
SDSU jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with help from three this. The Aztecs began the inning with back-to-back singles. Both runners were moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt for the first out. A two-RBI single to left center by Alnes put the Aztecs up for good.
The Aztecs added an insurance run in the sixth inning off of two hits and one Rebel error. Tamani Wells lead off the inning with a single to left and advanced to third when Bri Bernardi misplayed the ball. With one out and two runners on, Alnes came up big for the Aztecs once again, as she hit a slow grounder to Caitlyn Paus at second to bring home Wells for the third run.
Christina Ross (13-5) went the distance in getting the win for SDSU. Ross allowed 10 hits, while striking out three and walking one.
Shannon Crisp (9-14) took the loss as she tossed 7.0 innings. Crisp gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits, while striking out two and walking three.
In game two, UNLV broke open a scoreless affair with two runs in the third inning. The offense didn't stop there as it added runs in each successive inning, with two runs in each the fourth and sixth and one in the fifth.
With one out and one on in the third inning, Bolinger cranked her first home run of the year with a two-run shot over the left field fence. Becky McDonald scored on the home run, as she had reached on a single to center.
In the fourth inning, Crisp led things off with a walk and was pinch-run for by Britney Hillyer. Kendall Fearn hit a double to center to advance Hillyer to third. The back-to-back hits forced a pitching change for the Aztecs, which brought Alnes into the circle in relief of Celena Velasquez. Paus promptly hit a two-run single to left to score Hillyer and Fearn.
In the fifth, Bolinger reached on a fielding error by Melissa Owens in the hole at short. Bolinger moved to second on a ground out and continued to third, as no one was covering the base. Maggie Livreri brought Bolinger home with a single down the left field line.
SDSU scored its lone run of the game in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly out by Alnes. With two runners on following back-to-back singles and a ground out, Alnes hit the run-scoring fly out to Bolinger in left.
Bolinger came up big for the final time on the evening in the bottom of the inning with her second home run of the night. With two out and Sandy Nakamura on first, Bolinger nailed her shot over the center field fence to close out the Rebel scoring.
Christie Robinson (8-11) notched the win for UNLV in the complete game effort. Robinson gave up one run on six hits. SDSU used three hurlers in the contest with Velasquez (9-4) taking the loss. Velasquez tossed 3.1 innings and surrendered four runs on three hits. Alnes threw one inning and gave up one run on two hits. Melissa Owens closed out the game with 1.2 innings. Owens allowed two runs on three hits.
Up next for UNLV is a visit to Eller Media Stadium by Utah and BYU next weekend. The Utes come in for a doubleheader on Friday, May 5 at 5 pm. The Cougars will play two on Saturday, May 6 at 3 pm.
