Feb. 24, 2007

Final Stats

Cathedral City, Calif. - The UNLV softball team (11-5) was one out from a possible 3-1 win over the Notre Dame (3-5), but a two-run single following a Rebel error gave new life to the Fighting Irish in the bottom of the seventh at the Big League Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City, Calif. Notre Dame wound up taking the 4-3 game in the eighth with help from the international tie-breaker rule.

UNLV jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run single through the right side with the bases loaded. Jaci Hull and Brittany Bolinger were on base following their two singles, while Kendall Fearn reached on a walk. Hull and Bolinger scored on Meade's hit.

Notre Dame cut the Rebel lead in half with one run in the third. The Fighting Irish were only able to score one run in the inning, although they tallied four hits. With the bases loaded, Christie Robinson was able to get the lead runner out at home on a fielder's choice groundout. The bases stayed juiced for an RBI-single by Linda Kohan to score Stephanie Mola from third. The run prompted UNLV to bring Stepanie Bregante in from the bullpen.

The Fighting Irish could have plated a few more runners in the third, but a strange play occurred. After Kohan's single, Heather Johnson hit a grounder to Hull at short. Hull fielded the ball, but threw high over Bri Bernardi's head at home. The ball bounced around the backstop and allowed for two runners to score. The play did not stand, as one of the umpires deemed that Beth Northway had interfered with Hull. Northway was called out for interference and all remaining runners had to return to their bases. The subsequent batter, Katie Laing, wound up striking out to end the inning.

The game remained 2-1 in UNLV's favor until the seventh when the Rebels scored a would-be insurance run. Rosa Ordaz, who was pinch-hitting for Brittany Freight, led off the inning with a strikeout, but reached first safely when the pitch got away from UND's catcher. Freight re-entered the game to run and moved to third on a single up the middle by Hull. Kelli Fangonilo plated Freight with a single to left.

Down to its final out, Notre Dame got a dink single from Stephanie Brown to prolong the inning. Northway then popped up the possible third out of the inning, but Hull ranged to her right and had the ball bounce out of her glove. Brown and Northway moved into scoring position on the play and proceeded to score on a single by Kohan.

After UNLV was unsuccessful in the top of the eighth, Notre Dame's Carissa Jaquish entered the game as the runner on second base. Jaquish took third on a wild pitch uncorked by Heather Slettvet. Laing then ended the ball game with a single through the left side.

Robinson and Bregante took no decisions in the contest for UNLV. Robinson pitched 2.1 innings and was credited with giving up Notre Dame's first run. Robinson allowed five hits, while striking out one and walking one. Bregante threw 3.1 innings of relief and struck out five, while giving up three hits.

Slettvet (3-2) was handed the loss by misfortune. Slettvet was in line to pick up a save, but the costly error wound up making her the pitcher of record. All three runs that Notre Dame scored in the final two innings were unearned.

Brittany Bargar (3-2) used the luck of the Irish to pick up the win. Bargar tossed 8.0 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits. She struck out 11 and only walked one.

UNLV returns to action at 5:30 pm, against the Mississippi Rebels. Thus far, UNLV sits 2-2 with two games remaining in the Palm Springs Classic.