April 27, 2007

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV softball team (32-23 overall, 7-4 MWC) suffered a doubleheader sweep to the Colorado State Rams (26-23, 5-5) on Friday night at Eller Media Stadium. The Rebels lost both games by one-run margins. CSU took game one, 2-1, and game two, 4-3.

In game one, the Rebels dropped the first game 2-1. The contest remained scoreless until runs were scored in the final two innings.

CSU broke open the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth with a solo home run by Allison Majam.

UNLV evened things up with a run of its own thanks to an RBI-single by Kendall Fearn. Brittany Bolinger opened the inning by reaching on a fielding error by Lauren Cusick at third. Bolinger moved to second on a steal with Fearn at the plate.

In the seventh, Kim Klabough led off the inning with a pop up to the middle of the infield. The ball landed safely without any Rebel putting a glove on it. Brittany Huerta moved Sarah Sullivan over to third with a double. Sullivan had entered the game as a pinch-runner for Klabough. The double prompted a pitching change for UNLV, which saw Christie Robinson enter in relief of Stephanie Bregante (12-8). Robinson wound up hitting the pinch-hitting Shannon Causgrove to load the bases. Robinson got Cusick to hit a fielder's choice grounder to Brittany Meade at third for an out. Meade touched third for the first out and then threw home, but Sullivan slid safely underneath Bri Bernardi's tag for the go-ahead run.

The Rebels had a chance to tie and possibly win the game in the seventh. Meade led off the inning with a single up the middle. Alyssia De La Torre entered as a pinch-runner and took second on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Caitlyn Paus. After Klabough got the second out of the frame, she intentionally walked Jaci Hull for the third time in the game to put the go-ahead run at first. Kelli Fangonilo stepped up and flied out to Brittany Huerta to end the game.

Klabough notched the win in complete-game fashion. She gave up one run (unearned) on four hits. She walked four and struck out four.

Bregante suffered the loss in 6.0 innings of work. She allowed two runs on six hits. She struck out three and walked three.

With the three intentional walks, Hull is now the all-time leader in the single-season walk category.

In game two, UNLV fell behind 4-0 before deciding to rally. Unfortunately, three runs weren't enough to equal the Rams.

CSU put single runs on the scoreboard in the first and second and then got back-to-back home runs to push its lead to four.

In the first inning, CSU got a two-out walk issued to Allison Majam, who wound up on third on a single by Ashley Munoz. Julia Kloppe's single to the left side brought home Majam.

In the second, Huerta led off the inning by striking out, but reached on a wild pitch tossed by Heather Slettvet. A sacrifice bunt by Melissa Routh moved Huerta to second. Cusick's double to right center brought Huerta home.

Slettvet served up consecutive home runs to Munoz and Kloppe in the fourth, before Christie Robinson entered to close down the inning.

Robinson didn't allow any more runs to the visitors and let the Rebels attempt their comeback.

UNLV notched its first run in the fourth on a single by Bri Bernardi. Bernardi led off the inning by being hit by a pitch and took second on a ground out.

In the sixth, Brittany Bolinger walked and then stole second to open up the frame. Rosa Ordaz's double down the right field line brought home Bolinger.

With two out in the seventh, Hull stepped up and delivered her ninth home run of the season. Hull's shot bounced off of the fence in right field and out of play.

Rebecca Penland (6-4) took the win in 7.0 innings of work. Penland allowed three runs on four hits, while fanning five and walking two.

Slettvet suffered the loss and evened up her record to 8-8. She allowed four runs on five hits. She struck out four and walked one.

UNLV returns to action at Eller Media Stadium on Saturday night with a tilt against the New Mexico Lobos. First pitch is slated for 6:00 pm.