April 11, 2007
LAS VEGAS -
Weekly Ten Release in PDF Format
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Leading Off: The UNLV softball team looks to carry over its winning ways in Mountain West Conference play when they head to New Mexico and Colorado State this upcoming weekend. The Rebels swept two-game sets vs. Utah and BYU to earn their first-ever 4-0 start in MWC play. UNLV will play a pair in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, April 13 before heading north to play Colorado State in single-game action on Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15.
On Deck: The Rebels have four games scheduled next week. UNLV will take a short drive to Cedar City, Utah, for a doubleheader at Southern Utah on Wednesday, April 18. The team returns home for a two-day, two-game set vs. its MWC travel partner, San Diego State. The Rebels and Aztecs will square off on Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22.
Mountain West Conference Opponents:
New Mexico Lobos ~ Overall: 10-13. MWC: 0-0 ~ UNLV leads the all-time series 28-21, with the Rebels winning the last contest played 4-0 on May 12, 2006 ~ The Lobos look to open MWC play after having their two games scheduled at Colorado State postponed due to snow.
Colorado State Rams ~ Overall: 21-18, MWC: 0-0 ~ CSU leads the all-time series 26-23, with the Rebels winning the last contest played 5-4 on May 11, 2006 ~ The Rams look to open MWC play after having their conference home opening series against New Mexico postponed due to snow.
Sweeping Play Leads To Sweep of Weekly Awards: For the third time in 2007 the UNLV Rebels have swept the Mountain West Conference's weekly (player and pitcher of the week) awards. Jaci Hull picked up her third player honor of the season, while Stephanie Bregante notches her first.
Hull helped UNLV to a 4-0 record on the weekend. Hull hit .400, while leading the offense in runs (3), doubles (1), home runs (2), RBI (3), slugging (1.100) and walks (2). In game one vs. Utah, Hull led UNLV's rally from two-runs down in the sixth inning. She delivered a one-out solo home run to cut the Utes' lead in half at 2-1. In the second game, she hit an RBI-double down the right-field line to push UNLV ahead, 2-0, en route to a 2-1 victory. Against BYU, she opened the game with a solo homer in the first to give UNLV a 1-0 lead. In the fifth inning, Hull's steal of second base forced an overthrow by BYU's catcher, which allowed an insurance run to score. In Sunday's game vs. BYU, she also helped UNLV to a three-run first inning with a lead-off single to score the game's first run.
Bregante helped UNLV to three of the four wins in one start and two relief stints. With the three wins, she improved her record to 10-6. On the weekend, she held an ERA of 0.51 in 13.2 innings of work. She allowed only one run on four hits, while striking out 18. The opposition hit a paltry .089 against her in 45 at-bats. In game one vs. Utah, she tossed the final 5.2 innings and held the Utes scoreless, giving up only two hits, while striking out six. In her only start of the weekend, she pitched 5.0 innings against BYU on Friday night, allowing only one run on one hit, while tying her season-high of nine strikeouts. On Sunday vs. BYU, she tossed the final 3.0 innings for the win. She entered with two on and none out and kept BYU off of the scoreboard with the bases loaded. Bregante also struck out three in the relief win.
Utah and BYU Recaps: The UNLV softball team went 4-0 this past weekend to open up Mountain West Conference play. The 4-0 start is the first in the program's history since the team became a member of the MWC in 1999.
The Rebels rallied from a 2-0 deficit in their first game vs. Utah on Thursday, April 5 and never trailed for the remainder of the weekend. UNLV won the first game 3-2 and followed that up with a 2-1 win in the night cap.
On Friday, April 6, UNLV took a quick 1-0 lead on a Jaci Hull lead-off home run, but watched BYU tie it up in the fourth. The Rebels plated two in the sixth to break the tie and to win 3-1.
On Saturday, April 6, UNLV used errant play by BYU to take a 5-0 lead on the Fourth Annual Strike Out Cancer Day. The Cougars fought back and pulled within three, but the Rebels held on for a 5-2 win.
Utah and BYU Hitting: In the four Mountain West Conference games played at Eller Media Stadium, the Rebels hit .191 with 17 hits (two doubles, one triple and two home runs). The Rebels had three players (with seven or more at-bats) hit above the .333 mark.
Kelli Fangonilo led all Rebels with a .455 average. Fangonilo went 5-for-12 at the plate and scored two runs.
Jaci Hull was the main offensive for UNLV with a .400 batting average, while connecting on four hits in 10 at-bats. Hull knocked in three RBI, with help from one double and two homers. The big hits gave her a 1.100 slugging percentage, while two walks helped her to a .500 on-base percentage.
Bolinger hit .333 with three hits. She hit the squad's only triple. She plated one RBI and scored once, as well.
Utah and BYU Pitching: In the four Mountain West Conference games played at Eller Media Stadium, the Rebel pitching staff went 4-0 and notched one save. In 28.0 innings of work, the staff held an ERA of 0.50 and allowed only two earned runs (six total). They struck out 40 batters to walking 16.
Stephanie Bregante went 3-0 in two relief appearances and one start. Bregante threw 13.2 innings and held an ERA of 0.51. She struck out 18 and walked one, while giving up only one run and four hits.
Heather Slettvet went 1-0 and picked up a save in relief of Bregante. Slettvet threw 10.0 innings for an ERA of 0.70. She allowed only one run on nine hits, while striking out 18 and walking nine.
