April 24, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. - The UNLV softball team (32-21) suffered two tough losses to the #7/9 Arizona State Sun Devils (44-11) in Tempe, Ariz., Tuesday evening. The Sun Devils took the first game by a 9-0 margin in six-innings. UNLV jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead through 4.5 innings of play, but watched ASU fight back and take the game by one-run, 10-9.
In game one, ASU had things going its way when Kaitlin Cochran led off the game with a home run to center field on a Christie Robinson (11-5) offering. The Sun Devils added a second run in the frame on a Kristen Miller double to score Rhiannon Baca, who had reached via a walk.
The Sun Devils tacked on a solo run in the third on a single by Megan Elliott to score Bianca Cruz from third.
ASU put three-spots on the scoreboard in each of the third and sixth innings. Miller ended the game with a three-run blast to center. With ASU up 9-0, the game was called due to the eight-run rule.
Robinson suffered the loss in only one-third of an inning pitched. She surrendered two runs on two hits, while walking two.
Heather Slettvet followed Robinson in the circle for 4.2 innings. Slettvet allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks.
Casey Thompson tossed the final two-thirds of an inning before ASU ended the game by run-rule. Thompson gave up three runs on two hits with one walk.
Game two looked as if it was going to go the way of the Rebels. UNLV staked itself to an 8-0 lead, but witnessed clutch hitting by the home team and poor defense allow the Sun Devils a chance at victory.
The Rebels were helped to their lead by two runs in the first, one in the second, four in the third and one in the fourth.
Kelli Fangonilo got the offense going with a one-out single in the first. Fangonilo took second when the throw by the third baseman sailed past first. After the second out of the frame was recorded, Bri Bernardi smacked the first of her two home runs on the day to center.
In the second, Sandy Nakamura led off with a double down the left field line. Rosa Ordaz entered the game as a pinch-runner for Nakamura. Ordaz took third on a fly out and scored on a single by Brittany Freight.
UNLV pushed its lead to 7-0 with four runs in the third. Bolinger began the inning with a double to left center and came around to score on Bernardi's second shot. Kendall Fearn stepped up to give the Rebels back-to-back home runs. Ordaz kept the inning going with a walk and later scored on throwing error by the third baseman on a fielder's choice.
The Rebels scored its eighth run in the fourth on a ground out by Nakamura. With the bases loaded with help from a single, a hit-by-pitch and a walk, Nakamura plated Bolinger from third.
ASU began its rally with three runs in the bottom of the fourth off of Stephanie Bregante. A two-run home run by Cochran put the first two runs on the board for the Sun Devils. Miller followed Cochran's blast two batters later.
UNLV got one of the runs back in the fifth with help from a hit and an error. Alyssia De La Torre led off the inning with a single up the middle and the stole second. Brittany Freight stepped up and hit a grounder to second that was misplayed and rolled into center. De La Torre came around and scored on the error.
The Sun Devils pulled within one with five runs in the fifth. With one on, Mindy Cowles hit a two-run home run to bring the score to 9-5. The home run prompted a Heather Slettvet to be summoned in relief of Stephanie Bregante. Slettvet gave up a single to Cochran and then another to Miller. Miller's hit scored Cochran from second. ASU scored its final two runs on throwing errors.
Katie Burkhart (25-9) entered the game for ASU and wound up getting the Rebels to strike out in for of their six at-bats to blank UNLV in the final two innings.
After Burkhart shut down UNLV's offense in the sixth, the offense responded with two runs by a double down the third base line by Ashley Muenz. The two runs were enough to stake ASU to a 10-9 lead.
The Rebels return to action this weekend with five games in three days. UNLV will host Mountain West Conference foes, Colorado State and New Mexico. CSU comes to Las Vegas for a doubleheader on Friday. UNLV will follow that up with a single contest against UNM and then a doubleheader on Sunday.
