March 10, 2010
Game One Final Stats | Game Two Final Stats
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels improved to 14-8 on the year with a doubleheader sweep of the Southern Utah Thunderbirds (3-14) in cold and blustery conditions Wednesday afternoon at Eller Media Stadium. UNLV only needed five innings in each game for victory, as they won by scores of 11-2 and 12-0. In all, the Rebels had seven players hit above .300 on the day with Tara Bendt's .833 batting average and five hits leading the way.
In the first game, UNLV scored all 11 of its runs in the first three innings. Kendall Fearn put the Rebels up for good when she delivered a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. Paige Emerson took home easily on the fly out, while Tara Bendt came around from second after tagging up and alertly scoring on a throwing error. With runners on the corners, Alyssia De La Torre plated two more with an RBI-double to left center to cap the four-run first.
The Rebels added three tallies to the scoreboard in the second after two outs had been recorded. Bendt began the offensive with an infield single. She then stole second and third before scoring on another SUU. Jaci Hull, who reached on the error, stole second and then scored on a double by Ashli Holland. Fearn then hit a grounder to third that was misplayed and allowed Holland to score.
UNLV closed out its scoring in the third with four more runs. De La Torre led off the inning with a double and came around on an RBI-single by Tayler Aleman, who took second on the throw home. Aleman managed to score following back-to-back ground outs with Paige Emerson getting credit for the RBI. Bendt then walked and trotted home on a two-run blast by Hull. The home run ended Kara Bendt's (0-4) start in the circle.
SUU scored two runs in the fourth with help from one hit and an UNLV error.
Jessica O'Connor improved to 4-2 on the year in 5.0 innings of work, while notching her third complete game on the year. O'Connor allowed four hits and two runs, both of which were unearned. She struck out five and walked one.
Bendt was touched with the loss in 2.2 innings of her start. She surrendered 11 runs (eight earned) on eight hits. She walked three and struck out one.
In the second game, UNLV scattered its scoring over four innings, while shutting out the Thunderbirds.
Bendt got the Rebels on the board early reaching on a single. Hull then hit an RBI-double to center to score Bendt, while coming around to score herself on an RBI-single by Fearn.
In the second, UNLV quickly loaded the bases before a two-run single by Holland to increase the lead to four. Fearn then connected on another double, this time for two RBI.
In the third, Aleman walked before scoring on an RBI-triple by Paige Emerson, who then scored on a single by Hull. Following a single by Holland, Fearn then duplicated her second-inning effort with another two-run double to push the Rebel lead to 10-0.
Fearn ended the game with five RBI, which ties her career and season-high output.
UNLV closed out the scoring in the fourth with two more scores. Aleman scored on a wild pitch, while Bendt picked up an RBI-single.
Traci Odegard evened her record on the year at 4-4 in 5.0 innings tossed, while throwing her second complete game on the year. Odegard gave up only one hit to the first batter she faced. She struck out three and walked three, as well.
Bubba Kearns (2-7) was saddled with the loss in 3.0 innings pitched. Kearns gave up 10 runs on 12 hits and two walks.
The Rebels hit the road for the Long Beach State Invitational (March 12-14). UNLV will open up with a Friday afternoon (3:45 pm) against the Purdue Boilermakers. The Rebels will face San Diego, Notre Dame and Buffalo, while in California.
