March 16, 2008
Nebraska 10, UNLV 2 (6)
UNLV 5, Nebraska 1
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (19-13-1) split its doubleheader with the Nebraska Huskers (11-10) at Eller Media Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Huskers took game one in six innings by a 10-2 score, while the Rebels rebounded for a 5-1 win in the second contest.
In game two, the Rebels struck for four runs between the second and third innings to take control of the game.
After a scoreless first inning, Stephanie Bean led off the second with a bunt single. She took second on a sacrifice bunt by Brittany Meade and came around to score the game's first run off of a double put in play by Sandy Nakamura.
UNLV extended its lead to 4-0 with three runs in the third as Jaci Hull got the offense off and running with a triple to deep right center. Laura Briones brought Hull home with a single up the middle. Briones then stole second and took third on a single by Bean. Meade stepped up with runners in scoring position, after Bean stole second, and hit a sacrifice fly to score Briones. Nakamura singled home Bean to bring the score to 4-0.
Bean pushed UNLV's lead to 5-0 with an RBI-single down the line in right to score Hull from third. Hull opened up the inning with a double to right and took third on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Briones.
Stephanie Bregante (10-7) held the Huskers at bay until the bottom of the sixth. Bregante managed to overcome a bases loaded situation with a double play to end the threat in the sixth. Her shut out bid came to an end in the seventh when Nebraska got a walk and two singles to score its only run.
In victory, Bregante tossed her 13th complete game of the season. She struck out five and walked only one, while allowing eight hits.
Alex Hupp fell to 6-4 on the year with the loss. Hupp struck out seven to giving up only one walk, but allowed UNLV to scatter 14 hits through seven frames.
In game one, the Huskers picked up three runs in the first inning and never looked back in defeating the Rebels.
Amanda Duran stepped up with the bases loaded in the first inning following back-to-back infield singles and a walk. Duran delivered a two-run single up the middle to plate the first two runs, while Haley Long followed three batters later with a RBI-single of her own.
Nebraska added a fourth run in the second when Whitney Barrett scored from third while Meghan Mullin got caught up in a run down between first and second. Barrett led off the frame with a double and took third on Mullin's single.
The Rebels pulled within two on a two-run double hit down the line in left by Brittany Bolinger. Bolinger stepped up with the bases loaded after two Husker defensive errors and a walk. Her hit brought in Meade and Cheynah Farley.
After two scoreless innings, the Huskers extended their lead to 10-2 with two runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth.
Molly Hill picked up the win for Nebraska and improved to 4-3 with her 6.0-inning effort. Hill allowed two runs, both unearned, on four hits. She struck out five and walked three.
Heather Slettvet drops to 2-3 with the loss. Slettvet surrendered 10 runs (eight earned) on 11 hits. She struck out one and walked four.
Notes: Bean was the top performer for UNLV on the day and on the weekend. Against Nebraska, she went 4-for-6 (.667) with two runs and an RBI. Overall, in the five-game Round Robin, she went .733 with 11 hits, seven runs and two RBI. She held a slugged .867 and an on-base percentage of .750.
Sandy Nakamura hit .714 on the weekend with five hits, three RBI and two runs.
The Rebels return to action this week in the Golden State. UNLV hits the road for a doubleheader at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 19 (12:00 pm). The Rebels will then participate in Cal State Fullerton's Judi Garman Classic (March 20-22). UNLV will open up the "Garman" against Michigan on Thursday, March 20 (9:00 am). Louisiana-Lafayette, DePaul and Long Beach State round out the opponents UNLV will face in Fullerton.
