Feb. 10, 2007

Box Score

LAS VEGAS - For the second straight game the UNLV softball team (2-0) needed to rally to defeat the Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-4) on Saturday afternoon in the Alexis Resort Kick-Off Classic. Tulsa jumped to an early 4-1 lead in the first inning, but watched UNLV chip away the remainder of the game and eventually win 8-4.

The story of the game was Christie Robinson (1-0) and her dominating effort in the circle for the final 6.1 innings of the contest. Robinson entered after Shannon Crisp allowed four runs (one earned) in 0.2 innings of work. Robinson recorded the final out of the first and sailed remainder of the contest. She allowed no runs on four hits and struck out four for her first win of the season.

UNLV pushed out to a quick 1-0 lead with a walk to Jaci Hull. Kelli Fangonilo moved Hull to second with a sacrifice bunt. Brittany Bolinger plated Hull with a single up the middle off of Tulsa's Jackie Lawrence (1-1).

Tulsa scored its four runs with help from an opening error by Hull at short. Following the first out of the inning, Lauren Lindsay singled to center to score Stephanie Chomicki from first, who reached on a fielder's choice. Kelli McGlasson pushed Lindsay to third with a double down the left field line. Ashlee Lubnieski plated both runners with a single down the left line. Lawrence, who was hitting for herself, placed a single up the middle to score the fourth and final run.

UNLV pulled within one run in the third with help from two runs on two hits. Bolinger opened the frame with a walk and wound up scoring on a double to right by Kendall Fearn. Brittany Meade followed with a double to left to score Fearn.

In the fifth, the Rebels knotted the score at 4-4 with back-to-back doubles off the bats of Fearn and Caitlyn Paus. Alyssia De La Torre entered the game as a pinch-runner for Fearn and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Meade. Paus knocked a two-bagger to center to bring home De La Torre.

UNLV took the lead for good in the sixth on a two-run double by Bolinger. Hull and Fangonilo scored from scoring position on the shot to left.

The Rebels added two insurance runs in the seventh with help from five hits. Rosa Ordaz led things off with a single to left. Ordaz was relieved on the base paths by Stacey Burgos. Bri Bernardi came up with one out and singled to right to move Burgos to third. Freight singled to center to score Burgos and moved to second on the throw home. Hull brought Freight home with a single.

Four Rebels picked up two hits in the contest with Fearn, Hull and Freight going 2-for-3, while Bolinger was 2-for-4. Bolinger led the team with two RBI. Hull scored two runs.

UNLV returns to action at approximately 6:00 pm against Marshall. There are four games remaining on the docket, including UNLV-Marshall. The Classic concludes on Sunday with three contests. UNLV will play Nicholls State at 9:00 am and Illinois-Chicago at 1:00 pm.