April 29, 2007
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV softball team (34-24 overall, 9-5 MWC) got back on the winning side of the ledger with two come-from-behind, Mountain West Conference wins against New Mexico (18-19, 7-5) on Sunday afternoon at Eller Media Stadium. The wins helped the softball program celebrate "Senior Day" in proper fashion. The Rebels scored five runs in the top of the seventh to secure a 7-5 win in game one and got three in the bottom of the sixth in game two for an 8-6 victory.
Brittany Freight, the lone senior on the 2007 roster, came up big on her own day. Freight went 4-for-4 combined in both games with two RBI and four runs scored.
In game one, UNLV played as the "visitor" in the game since it was a make-up for the rained out contest in Albuquerque, N.M., on April 13. The Rebels fell behind 5-2, but fought back with five runs in the top of the seventh.
With UNM leading 3-0 through four, UNLV struck for two runs in the fourth to pull within one. The Rebels scattered four hits in the fifth for their two runs off of Caley Peterson. Alyssia De La Torre opened the inning with a single, but was later called out when she ran into the Lobos' second baseman on Freight's single to the right side. Jaci Hull pushed Freight to second on a single up the middle. Kelli Fangonilo loaded the bases with a single through the right side. Brittany Bolinger hit a grounder back to Caley Peterson in the circle, but Peterson's throw home sailed high over Erin Brandow's glove. Freight and Hull wound up scoring on the Errant throw.
After the Lobos pushed their lead back to three runs with two scores in the bottom of the fifth, the Rebels waited until the top of the seventh to work their magic. Freight led off the inning with a single to center and trotted home on Hull's two-run shot to right field. Fangonilo followed the home run with a single up the middle off of Kelly Ninemire (12-10). Bolinger moved Fangonilo to second on a sacrifice bunt. Bri Bernardi advanced Fangonilo to third with a single to center. Caitlyn Paus entered the game as a pinch-runner for Bernardi, but didn't have to do much as she and Fangonilo scored on Kendall Fearn's three-run home run that cleared the outer fence of the stadium.
The two-run lead was all that Christie Robinson (12-5) needed to shut down the Lobos in the seventh. Robinson tossed a complete game and allowed five runs on six hits. She struck out two and walked three.
Ninemire suffered the loss, as she surrendered three runs on three hits. She faced only four batters and recorded only one out in the seventh.
Peterson picked up a no-decision with 6.2 innings thrown in the start. She allowed four runs (two earned) on eight hits. She struck out one and walked three.
In game two, the Lobos put a run on the board early, but witnessed UNLV score two runs in the second and two more in the third for a 4-1 lead.
In the second, Brittany Meade reached on a two-out walk and came around to score on a double by Paus. When the throw went to the plate, Paus moved up to third. Freight plated Paus with a single to the left side.
In the third, Fearn hit a two-run shot to score Fangonilo from third. Fangonilo led off the inning with a walk and moved around the bases with help from a stolen base and a wild pitch.
The Lobos took their second lead of the game with a grand slam off the bat of Ashley Allen in the fourth. Stephanie Bregante walked three of the first five batters she faced in the frame and then watched Allen deposit the offering to left center.
UNLV tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth. Paus drilled a deep fly to left that Sara Loeffelholz was tracking, but was unable to catch. The ball hit off of the fence, while Loeffelholz crashed hard into the barrier. Paus made her way safely to third, while Loeffelholz left the game due to injury. Freight wound up walking and then getting in a run down, which allowed Paus to score from third.
UNM went ahead for the third and final time with a double by Lindsey Elcess to score Samatha Hughes from third. Hughes was hit by a pitch thrown by Bregante. The hit-by-pitch prompted a pitching change and brought Heather Slettvet into the game. Hughes wound up stealing second and third before scoring on the double.
After two scoreless half innings, the Rebels rallied for three in the sixth thanks to four hits. Meade nailed a double to right field and came around to score on a single by Freight. Freight took second on the throw home in an attempt to get Meade. Fangonilo then scored Freight with a double to left center. De La Torre added an insurance run with a single to center to bring home Fangonilo.
Slettvet improved her overall record to 9-9 with the 3.0 innings of relief work. She allowed only one hit, while walking two and striking out two.
Bregante took the no-decision in 4.0 innings of work. She gave up six runs on four hits. She struck out five and walked three.
Peterson (1-6) suffered the loss in 2.2 innings of relief. She let in four runs on five hits, while walking two.
Tori Rogers got the start for UNM and went 3.1 innings. UNLV scored four runs off of her on four hits.
UNLV returns to action on Saturday night (May 5) with a 6:00 pm, contest in San Diego, Calif., against the Aztecs of San Diego State. The trip will also feature a second game on Sunday at 1:00 pm.
