April 14, 2007
Final Stats
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The UNLV softball team (29-17 overall, 5-1 MWC) rallied on two occasions to overcome three-run and one-run deficits to Colorado State (23-19, 2-1) on Saturday afternoon in Fort Collins, Colo. The Rebels drove overnight from Albuquerque, N.M., to make the 3:00 pm MST game time. UNLV used a seven-run seventh inning to take the contest by an 11-5 margin against the Rams.
The game started out in the home team's favor, as the Rams took a three-run lead during the first two innings of play. CSU struck for two runs in the first off of two hits and two walks given up by Heather Slettvet. The Rams pushed their lead to 3-0 in the second with a solo home run by Kim Klabough.
The Rebels scored four unanswered runs between the third and the fifth innings to take a slim 4-3 lead. UNLV's offense got on track in the third when Jaci Hull hit a lead-off double to right center. After the first out was recorded, Brittany Bolinger hit a hard chopper to third for a single and then took second when Lauren Cusick's throw to first sailed wide. Hull wound up scoring on the errant throw.
In the fourth, Rosa Ordaz cut the deficit to one run with a solo shot to left off of Jessica Strickland (7-7).
The Rebels took their first lead of the game with two runs in the fifth with help from two hits and a walk. Hull began the frame with a walk and came around to even the score at 3-3 on a double down the left field line by Kelli Fangonilo. Bolinger pushed Fangonilo to third with a sacrifice bunt. Sandy Nakamura entered the game as a pinch-hitter and delivered a two-out single to center to give UNLV the lead.
CSU came back and scored two in the fifth on a double down the right field line by Stacy Leigh. Strickland and Allison Majam scored from second and first, respectively on the play. Following a hit batter, UNLV brought in Stephanie Bregante (11-7) to relieve Slettvet. Bregante ended the inning quickly with a fly out to Bolinger in left.
After a scoreless sixth, the Rebels rallied from one-run down with the aid of seven hits and two Ram errors. Kendall Fearn got the frame rolling with a one-out single to right. Jenn Newman then entered the game as a pinch-runner for Fearn and wound up on third by way of a Brittany Meade single to right field. Newman made her way home when the throw from right sailed over Cusick's head into the Ram dugout. Meade was awarded third base on the error. Ordaz then hit a grounder to third that was overthrown to first that sent her to second and Meade home for the go-ahead run. Alyssia De La Torre came into the game as a pinch-runner for Ordaz and made her way home on a single to left by Caitlyn Paus, who took second on the throw home. Laura Briones stepped to the plate as a pinch-hitter and promptly walked to put runners on first and second. Hull wound up emptying the bases with a three-run blast to straight-away center.
Hull's home run forced CSU to bring R. Penland into the game as a relief pitcher. Penland immediately gave up three straight singles to Fangonilo, Bolinger and Fearn. Bolinger's single brought Fangonilo home for the seventh and final run of the game.
Bregante got a quick one-two-three seventh to notch her team-leading 11th win of the season.
Bregante tossed the final 2.1 innings of hitless work. She struck out one.
Slettvet started the first 4.2 innings, as she gave up five earned (four earned) on six hits. She struck out two and walked four.
Strickland threw 6.2 innings in taking the loss. She allowed 10 runs (five earned) on 12 hits. She struck out seven and walked three.
Penland pitched 0.1 innings and gave up one run (unearned) on three hits.
The Rebels and Rams close out their two-game set on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm MST.
