May 6, 2010

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels (29-19 overall, 6-4 Mountain West) snapped out of a two-game losing streak in a big way with their 13-5, run-rule victory over the Utah Utes (24-26, 4-8 MWC) in five innings of play Thursday night at Eller Media Stadium. The game featured three big innings, as the teams tallied at least four runs on three occasions. UNLV opened the game with four scores before watching Utah rally with five unanswered. After tying things up in the third, the Rebels used an eight-run fourth inning to claim the contest.

With the score knotted at 5-5, the Rebels went ahead for good in the fourth with eight runs off of five hits and one Utah error. Paige Emerson ignited the offensive with a lead-off walk before moving to third on wild pitches tossed by Brittany Parker (3-8). Emerson gave UNLV a 6-5 lead when she scored on an RBI-groundout by Jaci Hull. Kendall Fearn kept things going with a single before a two-run home run by Marissa Nichols to left. Laura King scored on the dinger as a pinch-runner for Fearn. Parker then walked three consecutive batters to load up the bases before Joni Cook was summoned from the bullpen in relief. Tara Bendt welcomed Cook to the game with an infield single that plated a pinch-running Amber Peterson from third. Ashli Holland capped off the eight-run frame with a grand slam that cleared the scoreboard located behind left field.

UNLV jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after one complete inning of action with help from two hits and two Ute fielding miscues. Holland led off the frame with a walk and then motored over to third on a single up the middle by Emerson. Holland wound up scoring on the play when Utah's Kara Foster threw wildly to third base from center field. Emerson ended up at third on the play. Fearn then joined Emerson on the bases bring a first and third situation into play. Nichols hit a grounder to short that was misplayed by Kelsi Hoopiiaina that allowed Emerson to score the second run of the game. Laura Briones was then walked to load the bases just before Tayler Aleman hit an RBI-single to left to give UNLV a three-run lead. Nichols wound up scoring the fourth run on a wild pitch.

Utah answered back tying the game in the second on a grand slam by Parker over the fence in left-center. Parker stepped up with to the plate after the Utes had scattered two hits and watched Jaci Hull misplay a grounder to short that could have been the third out of the inning. The four-run homer ended Kylie Wagner's day in the circle and brought Traci Odegard (7-9) into the game in a relief role.

The Utes took their only lead of the affair with a score in the third when Odegard suffered a bit of wildness. Hannah Clements was the first of three batters that Odegard would hit in the inning. Clements eventually scored after moving around the bases after a groundout, a wild pitch and a passed ball.

The Rebels tied the game up at 5-5 in the third. Aleman started things with a single up the middle with one out and then took second on a groundout by Wagner. Bendt then hit a ball to Tia Palauni at second that went through her wickets and allowed Aleman to score.

Odegard picked up the win with 3.1 innings of relief work. She was touched for one unearned run on two hits, while walking two.

Wagner earned a no-decision in 1.2 innings tossed. She allowed four unearned runs on four hits with one strikeout.

Parker (3-8) was saddled with the loss and she gave up 11 runs (nine earned) on seven hits. She walked eight in her 3.1 innings of work.

Cook threw the final 0.2 frames for Utah and surrendered two runs on two hits.

UNLV is back in action Friday evening at 6:00 pm, when the conference-leading BYU Cougars come to town.

NOTES: Jaci Hull sits three RBI (168) shy of tying Kim Rondina's (1994-97) program record of 171 ... Marissa Nichols and Alyssia De La Torre moved up the program's career runs chart, as Nichols is tied for third with 151 scores, while De La Torre is tied for eighth with 103 ... UNLV is now 22-2 when scoring first, 28-6 when scoring three or more runs in a game and 9-1 when scoring more than 10.