March 21, 2009

Final Stats

SACRAMENTO - The UNLV Rebels (23-8) needed some late-inning heroics with their 9-8, come-from-behind victory over the Sacramento State Hornets (10-17) Saturday afternoon in the Capital Classic. UNLV rallied from an 8-3 deficit with six runs split between the sixth and seventh innings. Ashli Holland's three-run blast with two out in the seventh was the capper to the rally. UNLV has now won 17 of its last 19 contests.

Not only was Holland instrumental with the game-winning hit, she began the 8-3 rally in the sixth. She started the inning with a single and came around to score on Alyssia De La Torre's triple to center. Marissa Nichols pulled UNLV within two at 8-6 with a blast to deep center.

In the seventh, Holland stepped up with two on and two out and deposited Shelby Voelze's offering over the scoreboard in left-center to punctuate the comeback. Jaci Hull and Kendall Fearn got the frame going with a hit-by-pitch and a walk, respectively.

UNLV began the game with a 2-0 lead thanks to a two-run bomb hit by Hull in the first. Marissa Nichols scored on the home run after beginning the game with a single.

The Hornets rattled off six unanswered runs over the first two innings to stake themselves to a 6-2 lead. The six runs were tabbed to Jessica O'Connor who lasted only 1.2 frames in the circle.

Jamie Schloredt was responsible for five of the six runs, as she smashed a three-run bomb in the bottom of the first and chipped in an RBI-single in the second. Izmena Cabrera separated Scholredt's RBI tallies with a two-run single of her own in the second.

After two scoreless innings, UNLV got help from a fifth-inning throwing error to pull within 6-3. De La Torre, who began the inning with a single, came around to score on a ball put in play by Fearn. Rachel Miles fielded Fearn's grounder, but threw wildly to first.

Sacramento State countered UNLV's fifth-inning tally with two of its own off of Stephanie Bregante. Sherry Clark cranked a two-run, pinch-hit double to left to extend the lead to 8-3.

Bregante improved to 7-2 in 5.1 innings of relief. She was touched for two runs on three hits. She struck out six and walked one.

Voelz (4-6) was stuck for the loss, as she blew a save opportunity in 1.1 innings of relief work. She allowed three runs on one hit with one walk and one strikeout.

UNLV's nightcap vs. Cal Poly, which was scheduled for a 5:00 pm first pitch, has been cancelled due to inadequate sunlight.

The Rebels will be back in action on April 4-5, when they open Mountain West Conference play against San Diego State.