March 8, 2008
UNLV 2, New Mexico State 1
Oregon 7, UNLV 1
LAS VEGAS - For the second straight day the Rebels (15-11-1) split their games in the UNLV Invitational at Eller Media Stadium. UNLV defeated the New Mexico State Aggies (13-13) by a 2-1 margin, but fell to the Oregon Ducks (16-11), 7-1.
In game one, the Rebels rallied from a 1-0 deficit with single runs in the first and second innings.
The Aggies strung together three straight hits to open the game to load the bases off of Stephanie Bregante (8-6). NMSU managed to score its only run when an offering by Bregante went wild.
UNLV evened the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame on Alyssia De La Torre's first career home run. De La Torre popped up Kim Watson's (9-8) offering to right that sailed over the fence.
The Rebels pulled ahead for good in the second when Brittany Meade and Jessica DeMatteo nailed a pair of doubles. Meade led off the inning with a shot to left field and came around to score when DeMatteo shot a ball into the left-field gap.
Bregante picked up her second win of the weekend in complete-game fashion. It was her 12th complete game on the year, as she surrendered six hits, while striking out seven.
Kim Watson went 6.0 innings in the loss. She struck out eight, but allowed two runs and five hits.
In game two, Oregon struck for three runs in each the third and fourth innings to take hold of the ball game.
After two scoreless innings, the Ducks got three runs off of Heather Slettvet (1-2), who allowed four hits in the third. Neena Bryant singled in the first run after Cortney Kivett led off the inning with a single. Lovena Chaput moved Bryant to third with a single of her own. Monique Fuiava dropped down a bunt that rolled towards second base to bring in Bryant. After loading the bases, Kayleen Hudson walked to score Chaput.
UNLV picked up a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning on a ground out by Brittany Bolinger. Ashli Holland led off the stanza with a double to left center. Chey Farley sacrificed Holland over to third for Bolinger's run-scoring grounder.
Oregon pushed its lead to five with three more tallies in the fourth. Bryant singled in her second run of the game to open up the scoring. The Ducks then loaded up the bases and registered back-to-back walks to bring home two more runs.
The Ducks added their seventh run of the game in the sixth on a ground out put in play by Joana Gail to bring home Chaput.
Melissa Rice improved to 6-4 on the year with the complete-game win. Rice allowed only one run on two hits and struck out six. She did walk three, though.
Slettvet lasted 3.2 innings in the loss and was touched for six runs on eight hits. She struck out one, but walked seven.
Traci Odegard threw the final 3.1 innings in relief of Slettvet. Odegard gave up three hits and one run.
The Rebels return to action on Sunday in the final day of the Invitational with a single game vs. Ohio State at 11:15 am.
