April 13, 2007
Final Stats
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The UNLV softball team (28-17 overall, 4-1 MWC) had its four-game Mountain West Conference winning streak snapped with its 6-1, five-inning loss to New Mexico (11-13, 1-0) at Lobo Field in Albuquerque, N.M., Friday. The game was halted by a nearly three-hour rain delay and was officially made final when the field was deemed unplayable.
The second game of the scheduled doublheader has been cancelled and will be made up when the Lobos travel to Las Vegas on April 28 and 29.
Although the Rebel pitchers couldn't halt the Lobo bats, the rain did. The teams had to play in mid-30 degree weather and vary strengths of rain fall. Rain had fallen prior to the game and soaked the field, but the UNM grounds crew got the surface ready in time for the 2:00 pm MST first pitch. The rain came back near the beginning of the game, but grew stronger as the contest progressed. In the fifth inning, the rain began to fall at a steady pace and forced the umpires to stop play.
The frigid contest was scoreless until the bottom of the third when the Lobos struck for three runs on four hits. Samantha Hughes got the UNM offense on track with a one-out single to short off of Stephanie Bregante (10-7). Analise Rubalcava plated Hughes with a double down the left field line. Following a strikeout, Lindsey Elcess cranked a two-run home run to left center, which prompted a UNLV pitching change. Christie Robinson took over the pitching duties and wound up getting the third out of the frame.
The Rebels got one run back in the top of the fourth on a two-out single by Brittany Meade and two Lobo errors. Meade hit a que-ball shot down the right field line and took second when Ryanne Hodgins' throw to second went wide right. Jenn Newman entered the game as a pinch-runner for Meade and quickly stole second off of Kelly Ninemire (7-6). Newman wound up scoring on the play when UNM's second baseman Amy Ray threw errantly to Rubalcava covering third.
UNM put another three runs up on the scoreboard in the fourth. Robinson got back-to-back groundouts to Meade at third before Hodgins hit a single up the middle. Robinson then plunked Hughes to put two runners on base. Rubalcava came up and smacked a first-pitch home run to left field.
Bregante took the loss for UNLV in 2.2 innings of work. She allowed three runs on four hits and struck out three, while walking two. Robinson tossed the final 2.0 innings and allowed three runs on three hits.
Ninemire allowed one run on four hits in 5.0 innings. She struck out six.
The Rebels will hit the road and travel up to Fort Collins, Colo., for a pair of games against Colorado State on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's contest is set for 3:00 pm MST, while Sunday's is at 1:00 pm MST.
