Feb. 22, 2011
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels (5-5) got a two-run, walk-off home run from Paige Emerson in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim a 4-3, come-from-behind victory over the Southern Utah Thunderbirds (3-9) Tuesday night at Eller Media Stadium.
Emerson stepped to the plate after a walk issued to Stefany Valentino to open up the final at-bat for the home team. Emerson then took the 0-2 offering from Heather Black (3-4) to deep center. The ball caromed off the top part of the fence in center and bounded over to end the contest.
SUU had taken a short-lived one-run lead in the top half of the frame when it scored twice off an RBI-single followed by an errant throw. Stephanie DeJesus and Jenavieve Purcell reached safely following a fielding error and an infield single, respectively, before a ground out moved both up 60-feet and into scoring position. Aly Daniels then singled to second base, but Elena Fata's throw eluded Korin Cuico covering first. DeJesus and Purcell both scored on the play to put their squad up 3-2.
After four scoreless innings to start the game, both teams connected to put runs on the scoreboard in the fifth. With runners on the corners in the top half of the stanza, SUU's Heather Richardson stole second, which forced a throw from UNLV's catcher Heather Harrison. Harrison's throw went into center field and allowed DeJesus to score on the throw.
UNLV countered with two runs of its own to take a 2-1 lead. With two out and the bases juiced, Kylie Wagner stepped to the plate as a pinch-hitter and delivered a two-run single to right for the score. Christina Montoya and Elena Fata scored on Wagner's go-ahead hit.
Oliveto notched the win for the Rebels going the distance for the third time this season. She struck out eight and surrendered six hits, while all three runs that SUU scored were unearned.
Black was saddled with the loss for SUU in six innings of work. She was touched for four runs (two earned) on six hits. She struck out three and walked three.
UNLV returns to action this weekend at UC Riverside's Amy S. Harrison Classic (Feb. 25-27). The Rebels open up play Friday afternoon against Boise State at 9:00 pm followed by a contest against Cal State Northridge at 11:30 am.
