April 7, 2009

Game 1: ASU 20, UNLV 10 (6)

Game 2: ASU 15, UNLV 2 (5)

TEMPE, Ariz. - The UNLV Rebels (23-13) unveiled new black pants to go with an all black wardrobe Tuesday in its doubleheader at Farrington Stadium against the #5/8 Arizona State Sun Devils, but it didn't factor in to the outcome of the contests. The reigning NCAA national champions held serve on their home field and won both games by 20-10 (game one) and 15-2 (game two) tallies. The twin bill featured a total of 17 home runs being smashed out of the ballpark, with ASU blasting an NCAA single-game record of 10 in the first affair.

Game one quickly became a hitter's dream, as the squads put up double-digit hitting figures with UNLV scattering 10 base knocks to ASU's 19.

After a scoreless first inning, the second inning witness the team's push nine runs across the plate and UNLV own a 5-4 lead. Ashli Holland began the Rebel offensive with a single up the middle. Holland easily moved around the base paths via wild pitches uncorked by Megan Elliott. Holland took two bases with Kendall Fearn at the plate and scored on an errant toss to Laura Briones. Following the Rebels loading up the bases, Alyssia De La Torre blasted an opposite-field, grand slam to left to push UNLV's lead to 5-0. The home run spelled the end of Elliott's run in the circle and summoned Megan Ellsworth (6-1) from the bullpen.

ASU quickly answered with four runs in the bottom of the second, as Kaylyn Castillo opened the inning with a home run. Christina Zambrana stepped up three batters later with runners in scoring position and plated both with a two-run single, Zambrana eventually scored on a groundout to pull the home squad within one at 5-4.

The Rebels extended its lead to 6-4 when Jaci Hull moved around the bases, while ASU's defense napped. Hull began the frame with a walk and easily took second on a sacrifice bunt by Holland. Hull continued the play and took third, as no defender covered third base. She kept moving and scored when no one covered home.

UNLV moved ahead 7-4 with a single score in the fourth. Tara Bendt, who was pinch-running following Erica Addison's single, took second on a sac bunt and third on a single by Brittany Bolinger. An errant throw on a run down Bolinger got into allowed Bendt to score.

The home team rallied with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to take command of the game at 11-7. Zambrana began the comeback with a solo shot that forced UNLV to bring in Traci Odegard (8-5) in relief of Jessica O'Connor. Three more runs scored off two singles, while Krista Donnenwirth put the finishing touches on the inning with a three-run shot to deep left. Amber Petersen closed out the inning in relief of Odegard.

UNLV added two scores in the fifth with help from RBI-hits from Fearn and Briones, but ASU answered with four.

In the sixth, Hull pitched in an RBI-single, but watched as ASU blasted two solo homers before Mandy Urfer ended the contest with a three-run blast of her own to invoked the eight-run rule, as the Sun Devils held a 10-run advantage.

Ellsworth earned the victory in 4.2 innings of relief. She allowed five runs, four earned on seven hits with two walks.

Odegard suffered the loss in 0.2 innings of a relief stint. She was touched for six runs on six hits, while striking out one and walking three.

In game two, ASU's bats remained hot, while UNLV's were cooled down. The Sun Devils used five home runs to UNLV's single shot to take hold of the game.

For the second straight game, UNLV got on the board first, but the lead wouldn't live long. De La Torre began the game with a walk and eventually scored on a fielder's choice put in play by Hull off of a Hillary Bach (19-2).

ASU answered back in the bottom of the first with five runs of its own. Kaitlin Cochran got the inning going with a two-out double off of Stephanie Bregante (7-4). Following a walk to Donnenwirth, Renee Welty blasted the first of her two home runs in the game. Carlson wound up walking after the home run and was able to trot home on a shot by Urfer, who hit two in the game and three on the day.

The Sun Devils would tack on five more runs between the second and third before UNLV got one run back in the fourth on a solo homer by Marissa Nichols.

ASU added five more scores in the fourth to push the game to a 15-2 edge for the home team.

Bach threw 5.0 innings for the victory, as she allowed two runs on five hits. She fanned four and walked two.

Bregante was touched for 15 runs on 15 hits in 4.0 frames. She walked six and struck out two.

UNLV jumps back into Moutain West Conference play on Friday, April 10, when they welcome New Mexico (6:00 pm). Colorado State follows on Saturday (6:00 pm) and Sunday (1:00 pm).

Note: The 20 runs scored by ASU broke the single-game runs allowed record, which was previously held by Utah, who scored 18 on March 31, 2006.