April 14, 2008

Arizona State 6, UNLV 5

Arizona State 14, UNLV 7

TEMPE, Ariz. - The UNLV Rebels (21-27-1) dropped its doubleheader in Tempe, Ariz., against top-ranked Arizona State Monday afternoon at Farrington Stadium. The Sun Devils (46-3) fought back for a 6-5 victory in game one and got offensive in the second contest to win 14-7.

In game one, UNLV fell behind 2-1 after one inning of play, but rallied for a 5-2 lead through 4.5 innings. ASU turned the tables on the Rebels and scored six unanswered runs between the fifth and sixth innings to take the game 6-5.

The Rebels went up 1-0 with a quick run in the first with help from a throwing error by ASU's catcher. Brittany Bolinger led off the game striking out, but Kristen Miller dropped the third strike. Miller's throw to first hit Bolinger in the back of the helmet and caromed into right field allowing Bolinger to take second. Following a walk to Stephanie Bean, Jaci Hull stepped up and delivered a double off of Megan Elliot (15-0) to plate Bolinger.

ASU answered with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first by Krista Donnenwirth from a Heather Slettvet (2-10) offering.. Mindy Cowles got the offense going with a two-out single that allowed Donnenwirth to step up to the plate for her hit.

After a scoreless second inning, UNLV took the lead with two runs in the third. Stephanie Bean reached on a one-out single and easily came around the bases on a home run by Hull.

The Rebels tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to push their lead to 5-2. Ashli Holland scored on a wild play that featured runners being thrown out at home and third base in the fourth, while Bean hit a solo shot in the fifth.

The Sun Devils scored two in the fifth with one coming on a bases-loaded single and the second on a sacrifice fly.

In the sixth, ASU tied the game up with a double by Mindy Cowles to push a runner home from second and then with the bases loaded a fielder's choice scored the go-ahead run.

ASU's Katie Burkhart entered the circle in relief of Elliott with one out and one on in the seventh. Burkhart saw the second out recorded on an attempted stolen base before striking out the final one. She notched her second save of the season in 0.2 innings of work.

Elliot picked up the win in 6.1 innings of work. She allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits, while striking out four and walking two.

Slettvet took the loss in 5.1 frames. She surrendered all six runs and scattered six hits. She fanned one and walked three.

Stephanie Bregante and Traci Odegard pitched in the game in relief. Bregante didn't record an out, but gave up one hit and a walk, while Odegard notched two outs.

Game two was an offensive explosion that saw the teams rattle off 19 runs through the first three innings. UNLV scored seven of those runs, but ASU countered with 12. The Sun Devils tacked two runs onto the scoreboard in the fourth to round out the scoring.

The Rebels notched a 3-0 lead after their first two at-bats, but watched ASU plate seven in the bottom of the second to its first lead.

UNLV used a two-run home run by Rosa Ordaz in the first and a run-scoring double by Alyssia De La Torre to score its three runs.

In the bottom of the second, the Sun Devils strung together seven runs on seven hitsand got the help of three Rebel errors to go-ahead, 7-3. The inning was highlighted by a solo shot by Renee Welty and a two-run blast by Mandy Urfer.

With runners on first and second, Ordaz connected on a third-inning single to score Bean from second. Holland stepped up with Ordaz on second and Hull at third and proceeded to knock the ball out of the park for a three-run homer.

ASU stepped up in the bottom of the third and broke open the 7-7 game with five runs off of five hits. Carlson led off with a solo blast to give the Sun Devils the lead. Donnenwirth knocked in one run, while Welty had two more.

Cowles and Welty added the final two RBI of the game in the fourth inning on a double and a single, respectively.

Elliott pushed her undefeated record to 16-0 in 5.0 innings of relief. She replaced Amanda Nesbitt, who started the game and lasted only 2.0 frames. Elliott did not allow a run, but gave up five hits. She struck out four and walked two. Nesbitt allowed seven runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

Odegard took the loss in 1.0 inning of relief. ASU scored nine runs (six earned) on nine hits. She fanned one batter and walked two.

Bregante got the start for UNLV, but only went one inning. She allowed three runs on five hits.

Ashley Arnett threw the final 4.0 innings for the Rebels. Arnett plated two runs (one earned) on five hits.

UNLV's next game is Thursday, April 17 against Northern Colorado at 5:00 pm MT/4:00 pm PT.