Feb. 29, 2008

UNLV 5, WKU 4

UNLV 12, Pitt 1 (5)

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels snapped their three-game losing streak with back-to-back wins Friday night in the Eller Media Stadium Classic. The Rebels (12-6-1) defeated the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (7-5) by a 5-4 margin and run-ruled the Pittsburgh Panthers (6-4) in five innings, 12-1.

In game one, the Rebels took a 2-0 lead before taking hold of the game vs. the Hilltoppers and eventually winning 5-4.

UNLV scored two runs in the second with help from a solo home run by Rosa Ordaz and a sacrifice fly by Ashli Holland. Ordaz led off the frame with a shot to deep left on an offering by Ryan Rogge, while Holland followed two walks and a sacrifice bunt.

WKU tied up the contest with two runs of its own in the third off of Stephanie Bregante. Sam Cronk evened the score with a two-run single.

The Rebels took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Jaci Hull delivered a two-run home run to left center to bring home Alyssia De La Torre, who had led off the stanza with a double.

Hull added the decisive fifth run for UNLV after knocking a single through the left side. The throw by the WKU shortstop flew into the Hilltopper dugout to push her to third. She wound up scoring on a wild pitch.

The Hilltoppers loaded up the bases in the sixth following two walks and a single. Ashley Contreras brought home one runner with a sacrifice fly to left. Kelsey McCauley pulled WKU within one at 5-4 with a run-scoring single. Bregante wound up getting the final two outs to end the come back attempt.

Bregante improved to 6-4 on the year with her complete-game effort. She allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits.

Rogge took the loss and dropped to 5-2 after allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits.

In the second game, UNLV's offense erupted for 12 runs on eight hits and was aided by four Pittsburgh errors.

Pitt scored its only run of the game in the first inning off of two Rebel errors. Reba Tutt reached on a throwing error by Jaci Hull and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Tutt wound up scoring on a single by Sam Card that was misplayed by Caitlyn Paus in right field.

The Rebels got the run back when Hull tripled to center to score De La Torre from second. De La Torre walked with one out and got in scoring position after stealing second.

UNLV took hold of the game in the second with four runs on two hits and two Pitt errors. Stephanie Bean led off the inning with a double and took third on a wild pitch. Bean came home off of a throwing error by Jessica Dignon at short to third base. After loading the bases, Hull delivered a two-run single to bring home Paus and Ashli Holland. Brittany Bolinger advanced to third on the play and wound up scoring when Hull got caught in a rundown.

The flood gates opened in the third when the Rebels added six more runs to its lead. The team scattered four hits around the field and used one Pitt error to its advantage.

In the fourth, Cheynah Farley closed out the scoring on the night with her first-career home run as a Rebel. Farley sprinted around the bases after her hit landed just past the left field fence.

Traci Odegard picked up the win and sits 5-2 on the year. Odegard tossed 3.0 innings and allowed only one unearned run on two hits.

Heather Slettvet tossed two scoreless innings of relief and struck out three.

Kayla Zinger fell to 2-3 with the loss. Zinger only lasted 2.0 innings and surrended 10 runs (three earned) on five hits.

UNLV returns to action in the Classic with games vs. Hawai'I (6:15 pm) and California (8:00 pm) Saturday night.