Feb. 15, 2007
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV softball team (5-1) dropped its first game of the 2007 season to the #7 Oregon State Beavers, 6-5, on Thursday night at Eller Media Stadium in the first day of the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. UNLV had to fight off early miscues and a 4-1 deficit to pull even with the Beavers (3-1) in the bottom of the fifth at 5-5. Oregon State jumped ahead for good with a solo home run in the top of the seventh. UNLV countered by putting the tying-run on third, but was unable to knot the game.
OSU opened the game looking like one of the top team's in the country with four runs on three hits. Following back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt to open the game, the Beavers took advantage of a Rebel error to bring home their first two runs. DeAnn Young put two more runs on the board for OSU with a blast to left off of UNLV starter Heather Slettvet.
UNLV got one of those runs back in the bottom of the first on a ground out by Kendall Fearn. Jaci Hull scored from third after making her way around the bases with help from a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a Brittany Bolinger single.
The Beavers pushed their lead back to four runs on a fielder's choice groundball to Hull at short. Dani Chisholm scored on the play at the plate after she led off the inning with a single.
The game remained at 4-1 until UNLV came to the plate in the fifth off of Ta'Tyana McElroy. The Rebels reeled off four runs on three hits. The OSU defense helped prolong the inning with two errors on one play. Hull began the rally with a single through the right side and then stole second. Bolinger brought Hull home with a triple to right center. Fearn followed Bolinger with a walk and was then pinch-ran for by Jenn Newman, who quickly stole second. With runners in scoring position, Rosa Ordaz hit a groundball to Mia Longfellow at short. Newman timed her run to third perfectly and forced Longfellow to mishandle the ball. Bolinger easily scored from third and Newman followed after Longfellow threw the ball past Sherina Galvan at third. Caitlyn Paus pulled the game even with a double to left center to score Ordaz.
Heading into the seventh, Stephanie Bregante (1-1) had held the Beaver bats at bay for the two innings. Bregante entered the contest in relief of Slettvet. She finished the game with 3.0 innings of work and with seven strikeouts. Unfortunately, OSU's Tarah Black connected on a lead off home run to put her squad up one run. Black's home run accounted for one of only two hits that Bregante would give up.
Down to three outs, the Rebels had their opportunities, but fell short. Brianne McGowan (2-1) got Fearn to hit a fly ball to the warning track in center for the first out. Brittany Meade connected on a double to left to put the tying runner in scoring position. Alyssia De La Torre entered the game to pinch-run for Meade. Ordaz pushed De La Torre to third with a deep fly to right field. Down to their final out, the Rebels had Caitlyn Paus come up to the plate. McGowan got Paus to strike out to end the game.
McGowan tossed 4.2 innings and allowed one run. She struck out six, allowed four hits and walked one for the win. McElroy saw action in the Rebel half of the fourth, until McGowan replaced her in the sixth. She registered 2.1 innings of work and allowed four runs (one earned) on four hits. She struck out two and walked two.
With UNLV tying the game up at 5-5 in the fifth, Slettvet earned a no-decision after 4.0 innings of work. She gave up five runs (one earned) on seven hits. She walked three and struck out three.
Next up for the Rebels are two games on Friday, Feb. 16. UNLV will face Florida International at 3:00 pm and then come back at around 8:00 pm to play Central Florida. The Louisville Slugger Desert Classic will be played at three locations: UNLV's Eller Media Stadium (Harmon and Swenson) and Henderson's Stephanie Lynn Craig Park (Russell and Galleria) and Russell Road Complex (Russell and Stephanie). Full tournament information, including game recaps and driving directions, can be found on the softball page of UNLVREbels.com.
