March 1, 2009
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (12-8) came up short in their final game of the Eller Media Stadium Tournament on Sunday afternoon. After falling behind 5-1, the Rebels rallied for three in the sixth, but eventually succumbed to the Florida Atlantic Owls (11-9) by a 5-4 margin. The loss snapped UNLV's six-game winning streak, which began last Sunday against Cal Poly.
UNLV jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the first inning off of a run-scoring single by Kendall Fearn. Jaci Hull, who had originally reached on a fielder's choice, scored on Fearn's hit.
FAU managed to put five runs on the scoreboard between the second and third innings. The Owls got their offense going in the second following a single and back-to-back walks issued by Jessica O'Connor (5-2). With the bases loaded, Ambar Jones connected on two-run single to give her squad the lead for good.
In the third, FAU opened up with consecutive base hits that forced O'Connor from the circle and brought Amber Petersen into the game. Amber Barton rudely welcomed Petersen to the game with a double to left to score the two inherited runners. The Owls scored their final run of the game off of a fielding error.
The Rebels had left four runners on base after their initial score, but turned things around in the third with three scores on four hits. With two outs, Laura Briones stepped up to the dish with runners in scoring position and dropped a double down the line in right to score the two and end Rose Gressley's (3-4) day in the circle. Carrie Ann Potter was summoned from the bullpen and immediately gave up an RBI-double to Elena Fata that scored Briones. Unfortunately, UNLV couldn't keep things going, as the third out was recorded on a fly out.
Gressley picked up the win in 5.2 innings of work, as she allowed four runs on seven hits. She walked one and struck out one.
Potter notched her third save of the season in 1.1 innings of relief. She was touched for only one hit and one walk.
O'Connor dropped her second game of the season in 2.0 innings of her start. She surrendered four runs on five hits, while walking three and striking out one.
Petersen closed out the final 5.0 innings in the circle for UNLV and recorded five strikeouts. She gave up one run on five hits.
The Rebels are back in action on March 6, when they host UC Santa Barbara (1:00 pm) and Texas Tech (5:00 pm) in the first day of the UNLV Invitational. Joining UNLV, UCSB and Tech in the four-team field will be Notre Dame.
