Feb. 14, 2009

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (5-2) scored early and often in their 18-3, five-inning win over the Saint Louis Billikens (1-2) in Saturday's edition of the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic at Eller Media Stadium. The Rebels scored at least five runs in the each of the first three innings to safely secure the victory, while Jessica O'Connor registered her third win on the year.

The Rebels' offense was running on all cylinders from the get-go, as they tallied seven runs on six hits in the first inning off of Stacy Gillette (0-1). Alyssia De La Torre began the onslaught with a triple to center and scored the game's first run on a single to left by Brittany Bolinger, who later scored on an error after a bunt-single by Kendall Fearn. Ashli Holland then doubled to bring home Marissa Nichols, who had walked prior to Fearn's at-bat. Hull plated Fearn with a sacrifice fly to left to put UNLV up 4-0. Elena Fata pushed the lead to 5-0 on a single, while Bolinger added two more with her second single of the frame.

SLU got two runs back with help from a run-scoring double by Erin Cejka following a leadoff walk by Caitlin Trevillyan issued by O'Connor. Cejka came around to score with help from a Rebel error and a ground out.

UNLV went back to work in the second inning with five more runs on three hits and help from two Billiken errors. Fearn began the frame with a single and was subsequently pinch-ran for by Stefani Sanchez. Holland notched her second double of the game to put herself and Sanchez in scoring position and force SLU to summon Erin Kelly from the bullpen. Kelly wound up uncorking a wild pitch to score Sanchez, while a bunt-single by Fata brought home Fearn. The final three runs of the inning were unearned and aided by the errors.

In the third, Nichols reached on a throwing error, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Holland wound up bringing her in with a sacrifice fly. After loading the bases, the Rebels got another run on a fielder's choice put in play by Chey Farley. The bases remained full for De La Torre to uncork her second grand slam of the season. De La Torre's four runs pushed the Rebel lead to 18-2.

The Billikens notched their third run of the game in the fourth off of Kara Bendt. After putting runners on the corners, Brittany Schmidt hit a run-scoring single to left.

O'Conner needed only three innings of work to stay perfect on the year. She allowed two runs on one hit, while striking out four and walking four.

Bendt threw the final 2.0 innings and gave up one unearned run on three hits. She fanned three and walked one.

Gillette was saddled with the loss in only 1.0 inning of work. She was stuck for nine runs on eight hits. She struck one and walked three.

Kelly tossed 2.0 frames and surrendered nine unearned runs with two strikeouts and two walks.

The Rebels are back in action on Sunday, Feb. 15, as they face the Kentucky Wildcats at 1:30 pm, followed by an in-state battle with the Nevada, Reno Wolf Pack at 3:45 pm. The doubleheader will close out the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic.

Note: The 18 runs scored against Saint Louis are the most since the 1993 squad posted a 16-1, five-inning final over Massachusetts on March 16, 1993.