Feb. 8, 2009
UNLV 8, SHU 0 (6)
SHU 13, UNLV 7 (7)
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (3-1) split its doubleheader on Sunday afternoon with the Seton Hall Pirates (1-3) at Eller Media Stadium on the final day of the 2009 Sportco Kick-Off Classic. The Rebels run-ruled the Pirates in the first game, 8-0, with help from six runs in the fifth and two in the sixth. UNLV kept its offense going into the start of game two, as they opened up with a 5-0 lead only to watch its defense unravel and the SHU offense come to life in the 13-7 loss.
In the first contest, the squads played 4.5 innings of scoreless ball until UNLV opened the flood gates with six runs in the bottom of the fifth, which up until that point the teams combined for 11 runners left on base.
Chey Farley got the Rebel offense started with a one-out, solo home run to left field to break the scoreless tie in the fifth off of SHU hurler Ashley Forsyth (0-2). Alyssia De La Torre then reached on a dropped fly ball and was then joined on the base paths by Brittany Bolinger and Marissa Nichols following a walk and single, respectively. Kendall Fearn then stepped up and delivered a grand slam that cleared the outer fences of the stadium.
Fearn's homer forced the Pirates to bring Danielle Zanzalari in to relieve Forsyth. Zanzalari immediately surrendered a double to Jaci Hull. Ashli Holland then hit a deep fly to center that was dropped by the center fielder to allow Hull to score the sixth run of the frame.
UNLV brought the run-rule into play by reaching the eight-run mark in the sixth. Holland closed down the game with a two-run double to left to score Stefani Sanchez and Hull for the final runs of the game.
Traci Odegard held the Pirates' offense in check, as she did not allow a run and gave up only three hits. She struck out a career-best nine batters without allowing a single walk.
Forsyth suffered the loss in a 4.1-inning effort. She allowed five runs on four hits.
In game two, UNLV struck for five runs in the first inning, but quickly watched SHU rally back for six of their own in the second. The Rebels took their second lead of the game with two scores in the third for a 7-6 lead, but SHU managed to use a seven run, six hit, four error fourth inning to put the game in grasp.
The Rebels loaded the bases quickly in the first inning and got a two-run double from Fearn to open up the scoring. Hull and Holland connected for back-to-back RBI-singles to give UNLV a 4-0 edge before Bri Bernardi plated the final run of the frame on a groundout.
The Pirates finally scored their first run of the Classic when Nicole Loewenstein went yard on a Stephanie Bregante offering. SHU's offense then went on a tear with five more hits to score five more runs. The rally was highlighted by a three-run double by Leah Menichetti.
UNLV went up 7-6 when De La Torre and Bolinger strung together consecutive run-scoring singles in the third.
SHU's offense came to life once more in the fourth when UNLV's defense went south. The Pirates used four Rebel errors to their advantage and combined them with six hits of their own for seven more runs. Unfortunately, Amber Petersen (0-1) was the pitcher of record for the Rebels at the time.
Kim Schweitzer (1-1) picked up the win in the slugfest, as she tossed the complete game. Schweitzer allowed seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits, while walking five and striking out two.
Petersen, who entered in relief in the second inning, was saddled with the loss in 2.0 innings of relief. She gave up seven runs, all of which were unearned.
Bregante lasted only 1.2 innings in her first start of the season. SHU touched her up for six runs on five hits. Jessica O'Connor tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless relief and held the Pirates at bay with only one hit in her stay in the circle.
UNLV returns to action next Friday, Feb. 13, in its own Louisville Slugger Desert Classic (Feb. 12-15). The Rebels will open up with Southern Miss (3:45 pm) before facing #4 UCLA (6:00 pm). In all, UNLV will play five games next weekend.
