March 13, 2009

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The UNLV Rebels (18-8) kept up their hot play with their 12th win in 13 tries after defeating the Sacramento State Hornets (7-14) Friday afternoon at PAL Field at the National Invitational Softball Tournament in San Jose, Calif. The Rebels used a five-run fourth inning to take hold of the game, while Traci Odegard held the Hornet offense at bay.

After only one hit was recorded for both teams through three frames of play, UNLV bashed out seven hits for five runs and got help from an error to jump out to a big lead in the fourth. Brittany Bolinger got things going from a misplayed ball by Desiree Beltran at short. Jaci Hull joined Bolinger on the base paths with the first single of the inning. Ashli Holland then loaded the bases with the second single of the inning and was quickly followed by five consecutive RBI-singles, as UNLV executed base-to-base softball perfectly. Laura Briones, Elena Fata, Alyssia De La Torre, Tara Bendt and Marissa Nichols were credited with RBI in the stanza.

Elena Fata pushed the lead to 6-0 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to score Stefani Sanchez, who was pinch-running for Kendall Fearn.

In the sixth, Jaci Hull recorded an RBI-single to score Bolinger to extend the lead to seven runs.

The Hornets got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth with three runs on three hits. Whitney Loomis notched a single, while Izmena Cabrera and Rachel Miles cracked RBI-doubles in the inning.

Traci Odegard (7-4) went the distance for her team-leading seventh complete game of the year. Odegard only gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits, while fanning seven Hornets.

Shelby Voelz (1-4) was on the hook for the loss in 6.0 innings of work. Voelz was touched for seven runs, four earned, on 12 hits. She struck out four Rebels, but walked two.

UNLV returns to action Saturday with two games. The Rebels will open the day with a game vs. Long Beach State at 9:15 am at PAL Field, while moving over to SJSU Field for a 3:00 pm tilt vs. San Jose State.