March 13, 2010
Final Stats
LAKEWOOD, Calif. - The UNLV Rebels (16-8) defeated the San Diego Toreros (5-12) by a 4-3 margin Saturday afternoon at the Long Beach State Invitational from Mayfair Park. It was the second time that UNLV knocked off USD on the year, but today's meeting was much closer than the 11-3, five-inning thrashing on Feb. 19 in Las Vegas.
Marissa Nichols began the game with a bang, as with a leadoff home run to left. Earlier in the at bat, Nichols nailed a shot foul that cleared a 50-foot outer fence in left field.
Laura Briones gave UNLV a 2-0 lead with a run in the second. Briones was walked by Jessi Wares, who then was called for three illegal pitches that allowed the run.
San Diego knotted the score at 2-2 with two tallies in the third. Danielle Duhart began things by reaching on a fielding error by Jaci Hull at short. Duhart took second on a sacrifice bunt and easily scored on a double to the fence in left by Jennifer Ellenbeck. Celeste Soto plated Ellenbeck with a double of her own, but hers went to right.
UNLV got its two-run lead back on three consecutive hits with two outs in the fourth off of Chelsea Velovich (0-2). Chey Farley began the rally with a single through the left followed by one up the middle by Paige Emerson. With runners on first and second, Hull smashed a double to right to plate both and give the Rebels a 4-2 lead.
The Toreros got one run back in the fifth with help from a Rebel error. Jessica O'Connor (5-2), who entered the game in the fourth in relief, allowed USD to get two runners on via a single and a walk. Soto then put a sacrifice bunt into play that was popped up, but fell in the infield. O'Connor picked up the ball, but wildly threw to first that allowed Megan Walsh to score from second. O'Connor got out of the jam with consecutive strikeouts and a pop out.
O'Connor picked up the win for UNLV in 4.0 innings of relief. She was touched for one unearned run on two hits. She struck out five and walked one.
Traci Odegard, who got the start for the Rebels, lasted 3.0 innings in the circle. Odegard surrendered two runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk.
Velovich pitched the final four frames for USD in the loss. She allowed two runs on six hits, while striking out three and walking three.
Waers earned a no-decision in two innings of her start. She gave up two runs on two hits. She walked four, as well.
The Rebels are back in action Saturday afternoon with a tilt with Notre Dame (3:45 pm) at Mayfair Park.
