Feb. 19, 2011
Box Score: SIUE 1, UNLV 0
Box Score: UNLV 4, #3 Tennessee 3
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels (4-5) split their pair of contests Saturday on the third day of the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic played in Las Vegas. UNLV knocked off the #3 Tennessee Lady Vols (7-1) by a score of 4-3 shortly after suffering a 1-0 decision in a hard-fought affair against the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (3-5).
The victory over Tennessee was the first over a nationally ranked opponent since 2008, when UNLV handed the #3 Arizona State Sun Devils a 2-1 loss on Feb. 10.
UNLV struck early against Tennessee with four runs in the second inning. Korin Cuico got the offensive started when she was plunked by an offering from Ivy Renfroe (2-1). Rayna Bradshaw moved Cuico into scoring position with a single down the line in left. Heather Harrison then laced an RBI-single up the middle to plate Cuico for a quick 1-0 lead. Tayler Van Acker then capped off the four-run frame with a three-run home run deep to right that cleared the outer fence of Eller Media Stadium.
Amanda Oliveto (3-2) picked up the win in the contest in 3.2 innings of relief work. Oliveto entered the game in the fourth and allowed two runs on three hits the remainder of the affair. She struck out seven and walked three.
The Lady Vols struck for their first run in the fourth when they loaded the bases against Kylie Wagner, the starting pitcher for UNLV. Oliveto was then summoned from the bullpen and immediately got UT to hit into a groundout, but a run scored on the play.
Tennessee had another ripe scoring opportunity in the sixth, but could only muster one run against the freshman hurler. Oliveto juiced the bases after allowing a single and two walks. With the bases loaded, Ashley Andrews stepped up to the dish and drew a bases-loaded free pass to record an RBI and to bring the deficit to two. Oliveto worked herself out of the inning when she forced a fielder's choice put out at home and then struck out a batter.
The seventh inning provided some excitement for the fans in orange and white, but they did not get the outcome they had envisioned. Tennessee got consecutive one-out singles from Madison Shipman and Lauren Gibson. Both runners moved into scoring position when they advanced a base on a throw following Gibson's hit. Jessica Spigner pulled UT within one when she hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Shipman. Oliveto then hunkered down and struck out Shelby Burchell for the final out of the game.
Renfroe was saddled with the loss in 2.2 innings of combined work. She was responsible for all four runs off of four hits.
The UNLV-SIUE affair was an intense one, as well. The game was scoreless through six innings of action. The Cougars managed to score the contest's only run with two outs and a runner on second. Samantha Stanicek opened the final inning with a single to right off of Oliveto and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Following a strikeout, Chelsea Yankolovich delivered a single up the middle to put her squad up for good.
The Rebels had been held hitless by SIUE's Erika Taylor (1-3) through six, but lost the no-hit bid in the seventh on a single by Elena Fata. Stefany Valentino joined Fata on the bases when she was walked. Taylor then got the next two Rebels to line out and strike out to end the come-from-behind attempt.
Oliveto suffered the loss in a complete-game effort. She was touched for one run on six hits. She struck out a career-high 11 and walked two.
UNLV returns to action Tuesday, Feb. 22, when they face the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at 4:15 pm. SUU will play a pair of games that afternoon beginning with a 2:00 pm battle with Tennessee.
