April 2, 2008
UNLV 8, SUU 5 SUU 4, UNLV 2
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (20-20-1) split their Wednesday night doubleheader at Eller Media Stadium against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds (10-24). The Rebels took game one by a score of 8-5, but dropped the finale by a 4-2 margin.
In game one, Southern Utah took a 1-0 lead in the third inning off of a Norian James' single through the right side to score Shannon Lum, who led off the frame with a walk offered up by Stephanie Bregante.
The lead was short-lived for SUU as the Rebels turned a one-run deficit into a two-run lead. Jaci Hull led off the bottom of the third with a double to left center and then came around to score when Sandy Nakamura's grounder to Aly Daniels at shortstop was bobbled. Brittany Meade followed Nakamura with a two-run home run to left-center to give UNLV a 3-1 edge.
Lindi Kennedy pulled the Thunderbirds within one at 3-2 with a solo home run in the fourth, but watched as UNLV pushed its lead to four runs with three scores in the bottom of the inning.
SUU's Kristina Brooks loaded up the bases in the fourth after initially giving a double up to Brittany Bolinger with back-to-back walks. Nakamura then stepped up and delivered a double to left-center to clear the bases.
The Rebels added two more runs in the fifth inning with help from hits by Hull and Meade. Hull doubled home Bolinger from second, while Rosa Ordaz scored Hull.
The Thunderbirds plated three runs in the sixth off of three hits and one error. Traci Odegard relieved Bregante to start the inning, but wound up walking a batter, hitting a batter and seeing a batter reach on an error. Trish Clapham knocked two runners in with a single, while the third scored on wild pitch.
Bregante picked up the win and improves to 11-11 on the year in 6.0 innings of work. She allowed two runs on four hits and struck out three.
Brooks suffered the loss and falls to 9-17 in 6.0 innings. She surrendered eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits. She walked seven to only strikeout.
In game two, the Rebels held a 2-1 lead through four innings, but the Thunderbirds rallied for three tallies in the fifth to flip the game's momentum.
UNLV took a 1-0 lead in the first on a solo home run by Hull to right field in the first off of Brooks.
SUU evened the game up at 1-1 in the third when Rodeo Carli hit a double to deep center to score Daniels from third. Daniels had originally reached on a walk issued by Heather Slettvet and then moved to third following a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch.
Hull gave UNLV a 2-1 lead after scoring on a double hit by Ordaz in the fourth. Hull led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and then took second on Laura Briones' sacrifice bunt.
Carli came up big for SUU in the fifth when she delivered a single through the right side to put her team up for good. Shannon Lum and Daniels scored on the hit, as they were both in scoring position. Carli added the fifth run for SUU on a single by Karli Jenson.
Brooks notched the win in game two and moved to 10-17 with the complete-game victory. She allowed two runs on four hits. She struck out six and walked two.
Slettvet drops to 2-6 in 7.0 innings of work. She gave up four runs on five hits. She fanned eight batters, but walked three. UNLV returns to action this weekend with a pair of games hosted by San Diego State. The games will take place at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6.
