April 9, 2010

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels improved to 24-14 overall and 1-0 in Mountain West Conference action with their 7-4 come-from-behind win over the Colorado State Rams (22-12, 0-1) Friday night from Eller Media Stadium. The Rebels, who were playing their first home game in 30 days, gave the crowd of 456 an exciting contest to watch. UNLV scored five runs in the sixth inning to claim the game after Ashli Holland and Alyssia De La Torre cranked back-to-back home runs to put the Rebels up for good.

After watching the Rams score four runs in the sixth inning to flip the game in their favor, UNLV answered with five of their own. Tara Bendt and Jaci Hull led off the bottom half of the stanza with consecutive singles prior to a walk issued to Kendall Fearn that loaded up the bases. Holland then stepped in against Kelli Eubanks (16-8) and smashed a grand slam to left that put UNLV in the driver's seat with a 6-4 lead. De La Torre quickly added another run with a solo shot to left to put her squad up by three.

Coincidentally, the last time UNLV played Colorado State was on April 24, 2009, in Fort Collins, Colo. The Rebels trailed 6-3 going into the seventh inning of that contest, but watched as Holland hit a grand slam to give UNLV a 7-6 win.

The Rebels opened the game with a 2-0 lead off of two hits. Marissa Nichols led things off with a solo blast to deep center for her 10th homer of the season and 38th of her career. Bendt then stepped into the batter's box and hit a double to left to keep the inning revving. A wild pitch tossed by Eubanks allowed Bendt to take third before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Fearn.

Traci Odegard held the potent Ram offense in-check through the first five innings, as she allowed only one hit to the first 16 batters she faced.

Odegard's fortunes changed in the sixth when CSU came alive with five runs off five hits and one Rebel error in the frame. The Rams got a leadoff double from Sarah Sullivan and an infield single by Brianna Donahue to put runners on the corners for Caitlan Stem, who hit a sacrifice fly to left that allowed Sullivan to score. A single by Jenna Krogh ended Odegard's time in the circle and summoned Jessica O'Connor (10-4) from the bullpen in relief. O'Connor was rudely greeted by a single through the right side by Christine Thomsen that scored Donahue to tie the game up at 2-2. Krogh and Thomsen advanced a base following the hit when Bendt misplayed the ball in right. With runners resting in scoring position, Rebecca Penland nailed a two-run single up the middle to give CSU a 4-2 lead.

O'Connor picked up the win for UNLV in 1.2 innings of relief. She was touched for one unearned run on two hits, while fanning three.

Odegard earned a no-decision in 5.1 innings of work. She allowed three runs on four hits and struck out six.

Eubanks was saddled with the loss, as she surrendered seven runs on seven hits in five innings. She struck out four and walked one.

Penland relieved Eubanks in the sixth and recorded three outs, but gave up one hit.

UNLV is back in action Saturday (April 10) afternoon at 1:00 pm, when the New Mexico Lobos come to town. The first 150 kids through the gates will receive complimentary UNLV wristbands.