Feb. 6, 2009

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (1-0) struck early and often in their first game of the 2009 campaign with a 8-0 victory in a run-ruled, five-inning affair over the Marshall Thundering Herd (1-1). The win gives Pete Manarino his first at the helm of the Rebel program. UNLV racked up 10 hits with four going in the books as home runs.

A first-inning run was all that the Rebels would need en route to the win. Alyssia De La Torre opened the game with a single to center and then moved into scoring position on a bunt single by Brittany Bolinger. Marissa Nichols, who was making her return to the lineup since 2006, dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up 60 feet. De La Torre wound up scoring shortly therafter on a wild pitch thrown by Katelyn Murphree (0-1) to Kendall Fearn.

Brittany Meade opened up the second inning with a single up the middle and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Laura Briones. De La Torre plated Meade with a single to center.

The Rebels used the long ball in the third to increase their lead to 6-0. Nichols and Fearn started the home-run barrage with back-to-back shots off Murphree. Caitlyn Jackson was summoned from the dugout to relieve Murphree, but wound up giving up a two-run bomb to Briones.

UNLV got two more runs in the fourth to reach the eight-run threshold to bring about the run rule. Following a single by Bolinger and a walk to Fearn, Jaci Hull delivered a two-run double to push the Rebel lead to 8-0.

Traci Odegard picked up the win in a five-inning effort. Odegard struck out four and allowed only two hits.

Murphree (0-1) suffered the loss in 2.0 innings of work. She surrendered five runs on six hits. She fanned one and walked two. Jackson gave up three runs on four hits in her 2.0 innings of relief.

UNLV is back in action at 2:30 pm vs. Illinois-Chicago.