April 10, 2010

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels defeated the New Mexico Lobos for the 10th consecutive time with Saturday afternoon's 8-3 win at Eller Media Stadium. UNLV improved to 25-14 overall and 2-0 in Mountain West Conference action, while notching their fourth consecutive win. New Mexico (10-22, 0-2), on the other hand, dropped its eighth consecutive contest.

The Lobos struck early with two runs in the top of the first with help from two hits and a Rebel error. UNM quickly had runners on the corners following a single and a fielding error by Ashli Holland. Cristin Anderson, who led off the game with a single to right, went from first to third on the error put in play by Stefanie Carramusa. Danielle Castro then hit a sacrifice fly to right that plated Anderson for an early 1-0 lead. Carramusa, who stole second prior to Castro's fly out, scored on a single by Shenise Cox end the scoring.

The Rebels answered back with two runs of their own in the second off of three hits and one Lobo error. Jaci Hull cut UNLV's deficit in half with an RBI-single to left in the inning. Tara Bendt came around to score from first after initially reaching on an infield single. Hull wound up on third base when a throwing error in an attempt to tag Bendt out was over thrown. Kendall Fearn then delivered her second sacrifice fly in as many days to plate Hull and knot the game at 2-2.

UNLV took the lead for good with two more tallies in the second. Laura Briones and Tayler Aleman got the offensive going with back-to-back one out singles. Paige Emerson quickly plated both runners with a two-run triple to left and subsequently ended Katie Debroeck's (5-8) day in the circle, as Samantha Gatson entered in relief. Gatson managed to get two out to end the stanza.

UNM got one run back in the third with help from some defensive miscues. Cassandra Kalapsa led off the frame with a pop up to second base that was dropped when Hull collided with Holland, who was attempting the catch. Kalapsa moved herself closer to home plate after stealing second and taking third on a passed ball. Katie Gilmore and Kalapsa executed a perfect suicide squeeze play that allowed Kalapsa to score from third on the bunt. Jessica O'Connor wound up walking the next Lobo she faced, which brought about a pitching change for UNLV. Kylie Wagner (9-4) came on in relief and got a double play to end the inning.

Briones came up big for UNLV in the fourth when she added two insurance runs. Kendall Fearn led off the inning reaching on a fielding error by Carramusa at third. Fearn, who took second on the throw, was pinch run for by Amber Petersen. Holland pushed Petersen to third with a bunt single before stealing the first of her two bases on the day. Briones then delivered the two-run double to center to push the home team's lead to three at 6-3.

The Rebels scored twice more in the fourth to give themselves a five-run cushion at 8-3. With the bases loaded after a single, a fielder's choice and a walk, Holland hit into a double play that allowed Bendt to score from third. De La Torre then knocked in the game's final score with a double to left that brought Fearn home from second.

In all, the teams combined to leave 14 runners on the bases with each stranding seven.

Wagner picked up the win in 4.2 innings of relief. She did not allow any runs, while giving up four hits and one walk to three strikeouts.

O'Connor earned a no-decision in 2.1 innings of a start. She was touched for three runs on three hits. She struck out two and walked two.

Debroeck lasted only 1.1 innings in the circle in the loss. She surrendered four runs (three earned) on six hits with one strikeout.

Gatson allowed four runs (one earned) on four hits in 1.2 innings of relief, while Kari Gutierrez threw the final three innings for UNM with one hit, two walks and one strikeout.

UNLV is back in action Sunday (April 11) afternoon at 1:00 pm, with another visit by New Mexico. The first 150 kids through the gates will receive complimentary UNLV wristbands.

Note: The win by gives Pete Manarino 899 career victories with 56 coming at UNLV and the other 843 at Long Beach State.