March 24, 2007
STOCKTON, Cali. - The UNLV softball team (23-14) was cruising along in its contest against Pacific (18-11) Saturday afternoon until a sixth-inning error prolonged the Tigers' at-bat at Bill Simoni Field. Pacific fought back from a 3-2 deficit to score five unearned runs in the sixth and hold on for a 7-3 final score. A two-out throwing error and back-to-back home runs turned the tide of the game for the home team at the Pacific Mini Tournament in Stockton, Calif.
After three scoreless innings, UNLV broke open the game with a three-run home run to deep center by Kendall Fearn in the fourth. Bolinger led off the inning with a double down the right field line, after an apparent ball four was missed. Brittany Meade followed by getting hit in the chest by a Chelsea Engle pitch. Meade has now been hit by a pitch eight times in 2007. With runners on first and second, Fearn came up and smashed a 1-1 offering about 250 feet.
Pacific got two of the runs back in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers struck for their runs off of two hits and a Rebel error. Pacific began the inning with a single and a walk. Stephanie Bregante then entered the game in relief of Heather Slettvet. Casey Goldsand then hit a bunt single to Fearn at first. Fearn unwisely through to first and the ball skipped past Kelli Fangonilo covering the base. Briana Santos scored from second on the play, while Karie Wilson moved to third. Gina Carbonatto brought Wilson home with a sacrifice fly to center.
Bregante got Wilson to strike out to open the seventh before giving way to Christie Robinson. Robinson promptly came in and got Goldsand to strike out for the second out of the inning. Kellee Wilson entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Brittany Hendrickson and bounced a weak grounder to Robinson in the circle. Robinson's throw to first was high and allowed Wilson to move to second. The errant throw proved to be costly, as Pacific's offense awoke. Carbonatto was walked to create a force at all infield bases, except home. Lizzie Hagen wound up giving Pacific its' first lead of the game with a double down the third base line. Jennifer Curtier then pushed the lead to three runs with a two-run shot to right. Alyce Jorgensen followed Curtier's shot with one to left center.
Robinson (10-4) suffered the loss for UNLV with 0.2 innings of work. She gave up five unearned runs on three hits, while striking out one and walking one.
Slettvet started the game and allowed two runs (one unearned) on four hits in 3.0 innings. Slettvet struck out four and walked three.
Bregante was in-line for the win with 2.1 innings of relief but suffered a no-decision with the Tiger comeback. She struck out five and walked only one.
Engle (9-7) picked up the win, while going the distance. She gave up three runs on five hits, while striking out six and walking two.
UNLV returns to action at approximately 2:00 pm with a contest against Sacramento State.
