March 18, 2010

Final Stats

FULLERTON, Calif. - The UNLV Rebels (18-9) rallied for a come-from-behind victory against the Purdue Boilermakers (10-12) Thursday night at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif. Purdue struck for three in the first only to see UNLV rally and eventually lay claim to the game in the third. The Rebels got two-RBI efforts from Laura Briones, Alyssia De La Torre and Chey Farley, while Jessica O'Connor (7-2) notched her fifth complete game on the year.

Purdue struck first with three runs on five hits in its opening at-bat. After watching their lead-off hitter strikeout, the Boilermakers 2-3-4 hitters came up swinging. Molly Garst began things with a double to left followed by a single to right by Erika Petruzzi to put runners on the corners. Jenna Alexander then cranked a three-run home run to left for the 3-0 lead.

UNLV answered back with a run of its own in the bottom half of the frame. Marissa Nichols led off with a single through the left side before stealing second and took third on a groundout. Ashli Holland then delivered a single to center to cut the deficit to two.

The Rebels swung things in their favor with five tallies on four hits in the third. Paige Emerson got the offensive started with a double to left center. Jaci Hull joined Emerson on the bases with a walk. Kendall Fearn loaded the up the bases after the second out had been recorded. Briones then nailed a double to left to even the score at 3-3 with Emerson and Hull scoring easily. De La Torre stepped up and blasted a triple off the fence in center to score Fearn and Briones and put UNLV up 6-3. De La Torre's hit forced Purdue to bring Petruzzi into the circle in relief of Julia Rice (1-2).

UNLV added two insurance runs in the fifth with help from a two-run double down the line in right by Farley. Fearn led off the inning with a single and was pinch run for by Korin Cuico. De La Torre then traded spots with Cuico when she reached on a fielder's choice. Tayler Aleman then moved De La Torre to third with a single of her own. With runners on the corners, Farley hit a duck snort that rolled into first-base foul territory.

Purdue closed out the game's scoring with a single tally in the fifth.

O'Connor went the distance for her seventh win in 2010. She was touched for four runs (three earned) on 11 hits. She struck out a season-high nine batters without allowing a single walk.

Rice was saddled with the loss in 2.2 innings of work. She allowed six runs on six hits with two walks.

Petruzzi tossed the final 3.1 innings in relief for Purdue. She gave up three runs on five hits, struck out two and walked one.

UNLV returns to action with two games Friday in the Garman. The Rebels open up the day's action with a 9:00 am contest with #4 Michigan and follow that up with a 1:30 pm tilt with San Jose State.

Note: Jaci Hull moved one run closer to tying Kim Rondina (1994-97) atop UNLV's career chart for runs scored. Hull has 167 to Rondina's 168.