March 19, 2008

LMU 8, UNLV 0 (5)

LMU 9, UNLV 4

LOS ANGELES - The UNLV Rebels (19-15-1) dropped a doubleheader on the road at Loyola Marymount (22-9) Wednesday afternoon at Smith Field. The Lions won the first game by an 8-0 margin in five innings and took the second by a score of 9-4.

Game one was scoreless pitcher's dual until LMU struck for eight runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth. Megan Ackermann began the offensive with a two-run home run off of a Heather Slettvet offering. Following a single and a double, MiaSarah Cesena plated two runners to bring the lead to 4-0. Cesena wound up on third after her single up the middle was misplayed by Brittany Bolinger in center.

Traci Odegard then entered the game in relief of Slettvet and wound up loading the bases after giving up a single and hitting a batter. Chelsie Tysdal, who began the fourth with a strikeout, would up clearing the bases with a grand slam.

Melissa Dykema improved to 9-5 on the year with the 5.0 inning victory. Dykema allowed three hits and three walks, while striking out six. She forced UNLV to keep six runners stranded in the game, as no runner went further than second base.

Slettvet falls to 2-4 in 3.1 innings of work. She allowed five runs on five hits, while striking out four and walking two.

Odegard tossed the final 0.2 innings and surrendered three runs on two hits.

LMU kept its offensive fireworks going into game two, as Tysdal cranked a two-run home run off of Stephanie Bregante to give the Lions a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. In all, the Lions would deposit five home runs over the fence.

The Rebels countered with a run of their own in the fourth inning when Jaci Hull scored off Brittany Meade's bloop single to center. Hull reached on a walk and moved into scoring position when she stole second base.

The Lions recovered the run they gave up in the fourth with three of their own off home runs to left field. Darcy Pagnini nailed a solo shot, while Ackerman followed with a two-run blast to push the lead to 5-1.

UNLV picked up a run in the fifth on a groundout by Bolinger. Ashli Holland began the inning with a bunt single and advanced to third when Stephanie Bean's single to right was mishandled by Brittany Mayers. Bolinger put the ball in play to the right side of the infield.

Pagnini smashed her second home run of the day in the fifth off of Ashley Arnett, who entered the game in relief of Bregante. Amy Charpentier got on base with a single to left field before Pagnini muscled out the homer to push the score to 7-2.

The Rebels plated two in the sixth with help from a lead-off walk to Hull and a double by Jessica DeMatteo. After Hull stole second, Sandy Nakamura hit a fielder's choice grounder to third to put runners at first and second. Meade moved the runners up a base with a groundout to first before DeMatteo smacked her hit to right field. Caitlyn Paus, who entered the game as a pinch runner for DeMatteo, took third on a fielder's choice grounder by Holland. Paus scored the second run of the stanza when she and Holland executed a double steal.

Ackerman cranked a second home run in the sixth then the Lions loaded up the bases to allow J.J. Hartung to score the team's ninth run on a fielder's choice.

Tiffany Pagano jumped to 13-5 with the complete-game victory. Pagano allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits. She struck out 14 and walked four.

Bregante falls to 10-8 on the year in 4.0 innings of work. She allowed five runs on five hits with eight strikeouts.

Ashley Arnett threw 1.1 innings of relief for UNLV and gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits.

Odegard closed out the game with 0.2 innings of relief.

UNLV returns to action on Thursday, March 20 at 9:00 am, against #6 Michigan.