April 7, 2007
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV softball team (28-16 overall, 4-0 MWC) stayed perfect in Mountain West Conference play with its 5-2 win over BYU (20-16, 2-2) Saturday at Eller Media Stadium. The day was billed as the Fourth Annual Strike Out Cancer Day and there were 16 total strikeouts in the contest. Luckily, UNLV was able to capitalize on BYU's misfortunes to win the game.
In the bottom of the first, UNLV jumped out to a 3-0 lead with help from two hits and one BYU error. Jaci Hull opened the Rebel offensive with a single through the right side off of Christina Gwyn (10-7). Hull then took second on a sacrifice bunt put down by Kelli Fangonilo. Brittany Bolinger then walked to put two runners on base. Kendall Fearn came up and hit into a fielder's choice to force Bolinger out at second. Brittany Meade then hit a bouncer to the right side that second baseman Tracee Hoch mishandled and allowed Fearn to take third and Hull to score. With runners in scoring position Bri Bernardi hit a pop fly to shallow center field that wound up falling in for a two-run single.
UNLV added two more runs in the second thanks to two hits and another Cougar error. Brittany Freight delivered a one-out single up the middle to start the frame. Fangonilo knocked a two-out single to right to push Freight to third. After Fangonilo stole second base, Bolinger took a base on balls to load the bases. Fearn let Hoch help UNLV out for the second time, as the Cougar over threw her first baseman and allowed Freight and Fangonilo to score on the errant toss.
BYU scored its only two runs in the fourth inning. The Cougars forced Christie Robinson from the game after she allowed a lead off walk and a single to open the inning. Heather Slettvet entered in relief and recorded a strike out before Dani Snow singled to load the bases. Monica Gonzales then hit a grounder to Hull at short that was bobbled and allowed Jodi Norton to score from third. Slettvet then got Andi Ramirez to hit a ball a foot in front of Bri Bernardi at the plate for a fielder's choice put out. Jenn Whiteley then took a base-on-balls with the bases loaded to bring in the second run. Slettvet then ended the BYU rally with a strike out of Shay Jenkins.
The Cougars threatened in the fifth, as they loaded the bases with help from two walks and an infield single. Stephanie Bregante (10-6) relieved Slettvet after BYU got a walk and a single to put runners on with no outs. Bregante got the first out on a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners to second and third. Angie Quiocho then took a walk to load the bases. Bregante wound up holding BYU scoreless, as she struck out Dani Snow and got Monica Gonzales to ground out.
The top of the seventh added some excitement for everyone, as BYU got its first two batters on base for the fourth time. Norton opened the inning with a walk and then took second on a double by Courtney Nix-Clark to left. Bregante settled down and got Quiocho to pop up and Snow to strike out for the first two outs. Christie Zinanti then entered as a pinch-hitter and hit a 1-2 pitch deep to the left field corner. Bolinger ran to the fence, in front of the foul pole, and snagged the fly less than a foot from the fence.
Bregante notched the win in 3.0 scoreless innings of work. The win ties her for the team-lead with Christie Robinson. She gave up only one hit, while striking out three and walking three.
Robinson got the start, but only went 3.0 innings. She allowed both runs (unearned) on three hits. She struck out three and walked two.
Slettvet tossed 1.0 inning of relief and gave up two hits. She struck out three and walked two.
Gwyn suffered the loss for BYU in 6.0 innings. She was unfortunate as all five UNLV runs were unearned. She gave up five hits, fanned eight and walked two.
The Rebels hit the road next weekend with games in Albuquerque, N.M., and Fort Collins, Colo. UNLV plays a pair at New Mexico on Friday, April 13 (1:00 pm MST) and then head north for two at Colorado State. The Rebels play single games on Saturday, April 14 (2:00 pm MST) and Sunday, April 15 (12:00 pm MST).
