Feb. 8, 2008

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (1-1) opened up their 2008 season with a 2-0 win over Texas Tech Red Raiders (0-2), but lost the night camp to the Loyola Ramblers (1-1) by a 12-11 eight-inning decision in the Sportco Spring Kick-Off Classic at Eller Media Stadium on Friday night.

Against the Red Raiders, the game remained scoreless until the bottom half of the fifth. Caitlyn Paus stepped up with runners on second and third and delivered a single into left. Jaci Hull scored easily from third, while Laura Briones came around when Paus deliberately got caught in a rundown between first and second. Briones, who had reached base with her third hit of the game, scored the second run of the game before Paus was tagged out to end the inning.

Stephanie Bregante kept the Red Raiders' offense at bay by tossing a two-hitter in a complete-game, shut out effort. Bregante struck out four and walked one in the victory.

Tech's Tye Coats (0-1) suffered the loss in two-innings of relief. Coats struck out three, but walked three and struck out one.

In the finale the Rebels attempted to come back from an 11-0 deficit, but fell short after tying the game at 11-11. UNLV scored four runs in both the fourth and fifth innings and three in the sixth to tie the game, but Loyola was the only team to score in the eighth inning.

The Ramblers built an 11-run lead through five, but watched as UNLV chipped away with four in the fifth thanks to a grand slam by Jaci Hull to right field.

Hull kept the dramatics going in the sixth with her second homer of the game. The second shot was of the two-run variety.

In the bottom of the seventh, UNLV scored three runs to knot the score. Sandy Nakamura reached on a throwing error by the Ramblers' second baseman. Back-to-back walks followed to load the bases for Briones to smack a double off the center field wall to clear the bases. Briones took third after two more walks were issued to load the bases, but Loyola managed to get the third out to send the games to extras.

With a runner placed on second due to international tie-breaker rules, Loyola was able to bring home the winning run with a sacrifice bunt and a fielder's choice.

Bregante suffered the loss for UNLV with two innings of relief. She threw a scoreless seventh, but gave up the winning run in the eighth. She recorded three strikeouts.

UNLV returns to action at 4:45 pm with a game against the #11/#14 Washington Huskies, who went 2-0 on Friday with wins over Loyola and Texas Tech.