March 5, 2007
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The Rebel softball team improved its record to 15-9 with a doubleheader sweep of Delaware State (1-9) Monday night at Eller Media Stadium in the final day of the UNLV Invitational. The Rebels won game one by a score of 9-3 and followed that up with a 9-4 tally in the second contest.
Overall, UNLV had eight players hit .333 or above in the two-game set. Bri Bernardi held a .750 average with three hits (one double) in four at-bats. Caitlyn Paus finished with a .600 average with three hits (one double). Brittany Bolinger held a .429 average with three hits (one double, one home run) and six RBI.
In game on, the Rebels plated eight runs in the first two innings to stake themselves to an 8-1 lead, with help from Bolinger's six RBI. The Hornets kept the game from becoming a run-ruled affair with single runs in the fifth and seventh innings.
UNLV fell behind 1-0 after Aisha Holloman hit a one-out solo shot over the left field fence on an offering from Stephanie Bregante (5-4).
The Hornets lead did not last long, as the Rebels got a grand slam from Bolinger in the bottom of the first. Brittany Meade, Kendall Fearn and Paus scored on the blast. Kelli Fangonilo kept the inning alive when DSU's Meghan Wilson (0-5) misfired to first on the hit. Fangonilo moved to second on the overthrow and wound up scoring the fifth run of the inning on a triple by Jenn Newman.
The Rebels added three more runs in the second with help from four hits. Paus registered the third hit of the inning with a double to score Meade from second and push Bernardi to third. Bolinger emptied the bases with a two-run single that bounded up the middle.
UNLV pushed its lead to eight runs in the fourth on Paus' second RBI-single of the game. Rosa Ordaz was sitting on third following her one-out triple.
DSU kept the game from ending with the eight-run rule after five by scoring a run in the fifth. With Casey Thompson taking the ball in relief of Bregante, the Hornets got a double and a single to put runners on the corners. DSU scored on an errant throw by Rosa Ordaz in an attempt to get the runner stealing second.
The Hornets cut the deficit to six at 9-3 on a solo home run from Samantha Snow.
Bregante notched the win for UNLV in 4.0 innings of work. She allowed one run on three hits and struck out four.
Casey Thompson threw the final 2.0 innings of work and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits. She struck out three.
Wilson suffered the loss in 1.0 inning in the circle. She surrendered five runs (four earned) on four hits, while striking out one and walking one.
Megan Lambertz tossed the final 5.0 innings and allowed four runs (one earned) on eight hits.
Game two followed the same path as the first, in that UNLV rushed out to an eight-run advantage only to see Delaware State send the game the distance with a fifth-inning run.
The Rebels got three runs in the first with help from a hit and an error. Jaci Hull began the game with a walk and was followed by Meade getting hit by a pitch. Bernardi then delivered a one-run double to left to score Hull and put Meade at third. Jenn Newman loaded the bases by getting hit by a Brittney Ruark (0-3) offering. Bolinger then hit a fly ball to Diana Gomez in right, which she dropped. The error allowed Meade and Bernardi to score the second and third runs of the inning.
UNLV pushed the lead to 8-0 with five runs in the second on four hits and three DSU errors. Fangonilo led the inning off with a single to center and then stole second. Alyssia De La Torre then brought Fangonilo home with a single to center. De La Torre moved to third when a grounder hit by Jaci Hull was misplayed twice by Ashley Schaaf at second. Schaaf mishandled the grounder and then threw wildly to first to allow Hull to take second base. UNLV then executed a suicide-squeeze when Meade laid down a perfect bunt to bring De La Torre home. The throw by Ruark sailed past her catcher. The errant throw allowed Hull to come in from second, as well. Bernardi then plated Meade, who moved to third following a groundout, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Newman.
After Christie Robinson (5-1) held the Hornets scoreless for 3.0 innings and Slettvet did the same for the fourth, the Hornets got on the scoreboard with a run in the fifth off of Thompson.
UNLV got that run back in the seventh on a Stacey Burgos single to score Freight from third. Freight led off the inning with a double and took third on a throw to first on a groundout.
Trailing 9-1 in their final at-bat, the Hornets got three runs to pull within five run, but that was all they would get.
Robinson allowed only one hit, one walk and struck out three in the start. Slettvet threw a scoreless and hitless fourth inning, while striking out one.
Thompson threw the final 3.0 innings and gave up four runs (one earned) on five hits. She struck out six and walked two.
The Rebels return to action in their fourth and final tournament of the season beginning Thursday, March 8. UNLV will face Oregon in a doubleheader at 5:00 pm Thursday night. The full slate of the Eller Media Stadium Classic begins Friday at 9:00 with New Mexico squaring off against Longwood. Harvard, Miami (Ohio) and Portland State round out the seven team field.
