Feb. 21, 2009
Final Stats
Cathedral City, Calif. - The UNLV Rebels (6-6) dropped a 5-1 decision to the #2 Florida Gators (12-2) on Saturday morning at Big League Dreams in Cathedral City, Calif. The game, which was played with a Yankee Stadium façade, was more of a defensive battle than one would assume. UNLV was only able to score one of its four runners that reached third base and left a total of six stranded through the game. Florida, on the other hand, left eight on, but made the most of its opportunities.
After two scoreless innings, Florida broke the game open with three runs in the third. Michelle Moultrie delivered a deep fly to right that resulted in an in-the-park home run off a Stephanie Bregante (0-1) offering. Moultrie's fly ball landed just inside the fence and over the outstretched glove of Alyssia De La Torre.
The Gators kept their offense going following the homer, as they loaded the bases with help from back-to-back singles and a walk. UF had its next to runs gifted to them with help from a hit-by-pitch and another walk to move the runners from station to station.
UNLV cut the Gators lead to two in the sixth, when Jaci Hull delivered a ground-rule double to center to score Marissa Nichols. Nichols led off the inning by getting hit by a Stacey Nelson offering. Nichols then made her way around the bases with help from a ground out and a wild pitch.
Florida struck for two more scores in the top of the seventh. They got an RBI-single and help from an illegal pitch called while the bases were juiced.
Stephanie Bromacher improved to 7-0 on the year for Florida, as she tossed 4.0 scoreless innings. Bromacher allowed only two hits, while striking seven and walking two.
Nelson picked up her first save of the season in 3.0 innings of work. She gave up one run on two hits, while fanning two.
Bregante (0-1) was on the hook for the loss in a two-inning start. She surrendered three runs on five hits. She walked three and struck out one.
Jessica O'Connor, who entered in relief of Bregante in the third, tossed 4.1 innings. O'Connor was touched for two runs on three hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.
Traci Odegard closed out the game for UNLV, as she recorded the final two outs in the seventh.
UNLV will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 21, as they will help close down the Cathedral City Classic with games at 11:00 am (Long Island) and 1:00 pm (Cal Poly).
