April 19, 2008
ALBUQUERQUE - The UNLV Rebels snapped their seven-game losing streak in a big way on Saturday night in Albuquerque, N.M., against the New Mexico Lobos. The Rebels erupted for a season-high 14 runs in their 14-5 victory at Lobo Field. UNLV improves to 22-30-1 on the year and 2-7 in Mountain West Conference play, while UNM drops to 20-17 and 4-5.
The Rebels fell one hit shy of tying their single-game high of 16 set yesterday against Colorado State, as they scattered 15 around the field. Seven of those 15 went for extra bases, four cleared the fences.
The Lobos took a quick 2-0 lead after one inning of play with help from two unearned runs. Samantha Hughes led off the frame by reaching on a fielding error committed by Ashli Holland at second base. Hughes took second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a double to left-center field by Lindsey Elcess to put UNM up 1-0. Gabriella Parra followed two batters later with a double of her own to left to plate Elcess.
UNLV evened things up with the help of three doubles in the top of the second. Rosa Ordaz got things going with a double to right-center, off a Kelly Ninemire offering, before taking third on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Brittany Meade. Ashli Holland and Alyssia De La Torre followed with back-to-back two-baggers to knot things up.
The Rebels kept their offense going in the third inning as Jaci Hull put UNLV up 6-2 with a grand slam to deep center. The inning began with three straight singles by Laura Briones, Brittany Bolinger and Stephanie Bean. Hull's blast was enough to force UNM to pull Ninemire from the circle and replace her with Madelyn Machac, who got the Lobos out of the inning.
After two scoreless innings, the Lobos cut the deficit to three runs with a lone score in the fourth. Sara Loeffelholz delivered a double to right field to score Tianna George from second. George had originally reached on a walk and then moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Holland fielded the ball in right and fired home getting a potential run out at the plate to end the inning.
The Rebels extended their lead to six runs with a three-run sixth. Jessica DeMatteo stepped up as a pinch-hitter, with runners on first and second, and blasted a three-run home run to center.
UNM got two runs back in the sixth with help from a solo homer by Erin Brandow and a fielder's choice put in play by Katie Gilmore.
UNLV added five runs in the seventh inning to take a 14-5 lead. Bean began the inning with a single to pull Machac from the game and bring Tori Rogers to the circle. Hull welcomed Rogers with a single, while Ordaz hit a three-run shot to right-center field. Rogers then walked Holland only to toss up another home run in the inning, this one to De La Torre.
Ashley Arnett, who entered the contest in the third inning in relief of Traci Odegard, picked up the win and improved to 2-0. Arnett threw 3.1 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits.
Stephanie Bregante earned her third save of the season in 1.2 innings of relief. Bregante only gave up one hit in the outing.
Ninemire dropped to 13-11 on the year in only 2.0 innings of her start. She surrendered six runs on seven hits.
UNLV is back in action on Sunday with a 1:00 pm MT/12:00 pm PT contest with the Lobos.
Note: The seven-game losing streak that was snapped with tonight's victory was the longest since an eight-game run in 2002 (Feb. 23-March 2).
