March 8, 2009
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (16-8) ended its weekend with a perfect record (4-0) after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-6) by a 5-3 margin Sunday afternoon. The Rebels broke open a 2-2 tie with three runs in the second to stake themselves to a 5-2 lead in the conclusion of the UNLV Invitational at Eller Media Stadium in front of 736 fans on "Youth Day". The win extends UNLV's winning streak to five, while coming out the victors in 10 of its last 11.
UNLV jumped out quickly in the first with two runs off of three hits and got some help from a Notre Dame error in the first. Marissa Nichols led off the frame with a single and came around to score on a double by Brittany Bolinger. An errant throw to third base by the UND centerfielder allowed Nichols to put UNLV up 1-0. Jaci Hull made it 2-0 with a single of her own to score Bolinger.
The Fighting Irish knotted things up at 2-2 in the top of the second when Brianna Jorgensborg went yard on a Jessica O'Connor (7-2) offering. Heather Johnson scored on Jorgensborg's home run.
The Rebels regrouped in the bottom of the second and took the lead for good with three scores on three hits and another UND error. With runners on first and second, Bolinger hit a grounder to short that was misplayed. Brittany Meade came around to score on the error, while Nichols went from first to third. Hull and Kendall Fearn then connected on back-to-back RBI-singles to push the lead to three.
Notre Dame attempted a rally in the sixth, but only came away with one run. The Fighting Irish loaded the bases with two out and forced UNLV to relieve O'Connor with Traci Odegard. Stephanie Mola was the only batter to face Odegard, as she hit a run-scoring, infield single to score one, but the inning ended on the play as a runner was thrown out at home.
O'Connor picked up her seventh win of 2009 in 5.2 innings of work. She was touched for three runs on five hits. She struck out two, but walked five.
Odegard notched her second save of the season in 1.1 innings of relief. She gave up two hits in her outing.
Brittany Bargar (4-2) took the loss for UND in her start. Bargar allowed five runs, two earned, on right hits. She fanned six and walked one.
UNLV heads to San Jose, Calif., for the National Invitational Softball Tournament hosted by San Jose State next weekend. The Rebels will play five games from Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15. UNLV will face Canisius (9:15 am) and Sacramento State (3:15 pm) on Friday.
