April 12, 2008

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV softball team (21-25-1 overall, 1-5 Mountain West Conference) dropped a 4-0 decision to the Utah Utes (22-19, 5-3 MWC) on Saturday afternoon at Eller Media Stadium. Utah's Ashley Smuda tossed a complete-game no-hitter for the win.

Utah struck first with three runs, two of which were unearned, in the third inning. With runners on second and third, Devina Quintero delivered a single through the left-side to put the Utes up 1-0. Kristie Keller then stepped up and watched as her teammate, Angie Boardman, got caught in a run down at third. Laura Briones' throw sailed wide of third base and allowed Boardman and Quintero to notch the team's second and third runs.

The Utes added an insurance run in the fifth to push their lead to 4-0. Quintero led off the inning with a walk and was immediately pinch-run for by Meghan Crouse, who took second on a ground out and then scored on a single by Staci Hemingway.

Smuda improves to 13-9 with the effort. She struck out five and walked three.

Heather Slettvet drops to 2-9 in 3.0 innings of work. Slettvet allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits. She fanned one and walked two.

Stephanie Bregante relieved Slettvet and threw the final 4.0 frames. Bregante gave up one run on three hits. She struck out four and walked two.

Note: This is the second time this season that UNLV has been no-hit. Louisiana-Lafayette achieved the feat in five innings of play on March 21, in Fullerton, Calif. The last time UNLV was no-hit in seven innings was against then-#1 Arizona in Fullerton, on March 16, 2006.

The Rebels are back in action on Monday, April 14, when they head to Tempe, Ariz., for a 1:00 pm doubleheader against top-ranked Arizona State.