March 14, 2007
Final Stats
Fullerton, Calif. - The UNLV softball team (20-12) split its two games on Tuesday evening at Anderson Family Field on the campus of Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton, Calif. The Rebels suffered a 6-0 loss to the #8 Texas Longhorns (21-3), but rebounded for a 7-3 win over the Fordham Rams (9-10).
In the nightcap, the Rebels made up for their game-one misfortune with a win over the Rams. UNLV got a 4-for-4 performance from Caitlyn Paus, who also scored three runs, while Heather Slettvet went 3-for-4 at the plate and knocked in four RBI. Slettvet picked up the win in the circle and improved her record to 5-3 in 5.1 innings of work.
The Rebels got on the board in the second on a run-scoring double by Slettvet that score Paus from second.
UNLV added its second run in the third when Brittany Freight came around from second on a bunt-single by Kelli Fangonilo. The bunt was fielded by Fordham's third baseman and was errantly thrown past the first baseman, which allowed Freight to score.
Fordham cut the Rebel lead in half with a run of its own in the bottom of the third. The Rams got their run following a single by Mary Beth Puccio, who made her way around the bases with help from a sacrifice bunt, a single and a ground out.
The Rebels added five runs over the final two innings to extend their lead to 7-1. UNLV scored three runs on five hits in the sixth, while being aided by three Ram errors. The Rebels scored two in the seventh on a two-run double by Slettvet.
Fordham made its only real offensive in the seventh when they plated two runs on one hit, but left the bases loaded to end the game. The Rams were helped by Slettvet walking two and hitting one batter before being pulled for Casey Thompson. The Rams got a two-run single to bring the score to its final 7-3 margin. Thompson recorded the final two outs by strikeout.
Slettvet opened the game in the circle for UNLV, before giving way to Christie Robinson in the fifth. Slettvet came back into the circle in the sixth, before handing the ball off to Thompson.
Slettvet struck out six and walked three, while giving up three runs on three hits. Robinson gave up one hit in her only inning of work. Thompson struck out two and walked one.
Allison Twarowski (4-2) took the loss in 4.0 innings of work. Twarowski gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits. She struck out five and walked none.
In game one, the Longhorns took control of the game in the first inning with a sacrifice fly by Talli Thrasher to right. Shannon Thomas scored from third on the fly out after reaching on a single and two-base error when Brittany Freight misplayed the ball.
UT added a run to its lead in the third on an RBI-single by Megan Willis. Kelly Melone led off the inning by getting hit on a Robinson offering. Melone worked her way around the bases following a sacrifice bunt and a ground out.
Texas opened up the game to its final six-run margin in the seventh with help from back-to-back home runs. Willis pushed the score to 5-0 on a two-run shot to left-center after Thomas scored on a throwing error from Alyssia De La Torre in right. Kacie Gaskin added the fourth run of the inning on a shot that traveled about 10 feet to the right of Willis' landing spot.
Robinson (8-3) suffered the loss in 3.0 innings of work. Robinson allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out. Stephanie Bregante threw the final 4.0 innings and surrendered four runs (three earned) on three hits. Bregante struck out five and walked five.
Meagan Denny (13-2) notched the victory for Texas in convincing fashion. Denny gave up only three hits, while she struck out 13 Rebels against two walks.
