March 4, 2011

Box Score: San Diego 8, UNLV 5

Box Score: UNLV 3, Troy 2

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels (8-7) split its set of games Friday evening during the Eller Media Stadium Classic with each being decided in the seventh inning. UNLV lost its first game by an 8-5 score to the San Diego Toreros before rallying for a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the Troy Trojans (11-4).

UNLV's offense was led by a 5-for-8 performance from Ashli Holland, who also added two RBI and scored twice. Paige Emerson and Heather Harrison both hit .500 on the day with the former going 3-for-6 at the plate to the latter's 1-for-2 effort. Tayler Van Acker hit .400 (2-for-5) and knocked in three RBI, including the game-winner against Troy.

In the circle, Amanda Oliveto went 1-1 in 7.1 innings of work. Oliveto suffered the loss against San Diego before throwing a complete game against Troy. In all, she surrendered five runs on nine hits, struck out six and walked three.

Game 1 - San Diego: UNLV owned a 5-1 lead through three innings of action, but watched as San Diego chipped away at the lead and turned the game in its favor in the final four frames. With the contest knotted at 5-all after six, the Toreros plated three to stake themselves to an 8-5 lead before they weathered a bases loaded situation in the bottom half of the inning.

Oliveto (5-3) was brought on to pitch in the seventh, but was not able to get herself out of the inning after giving up three runs off of four hits. USD began the inning with back-to-back singles before a run-scoring double by Taylor Hensley plated the go-ahead score. Celeste Soto brought home two insurance runs with a single to cap the three-run inning.

The teams traded runs in the second inning with Jessica Tieszen putting USD up 1-0 with a solo home run before an RBI-single by Harrison scored Holland from second. Holland initially reached base on a fielding error.

UNLV pushed out to a 5-1 with four runs in the third off of five hits. Stefany Valentino led off with a double to right and was quickly joined on the base paths by Emerson following a walk. Both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt put in play by Elena Fata. Van Acker knocked in Valentino with an RBI-single up the middle. Holland then hit an RBI-single of her own to score Emerson. Pauline Monreal brought home Van Acker for the third run, while Cuico concluded the scoring with an RBI-double that scored Monreal.

Cuico's double ended Cassidy Coleman's day in the circle for USD and summoned Jenny Lahitte (1-1) from the bullpen. Lahitte did not allow a run and only four hits in 4.1 innings of relief. She struck out four and walked only one.

USD's rally began in the fourth inning with a two-run home run by Tieszen followed by a two-run, game-tying single by Hensley.

UNLV's hurlers combined to allow eight runs and 14 hits. The struck out five and walked one.

Game 2 - Troy: UNLV came up to bat trailing by one in the bottom of the seventh and promptly scored twice to end the game with a 3-2 win. Valentino and Emerson reached base safely following a fielder's choice and a single, respectively. Holland, who is known for her seventh-inning heroics stepped up and tied the contest with an RBI-single up the middle that scored Valentino. Van Acker then ended the game with a sacrifice fly to left that brought home Emerson for the game-winning run.

Troy had taken a brief 2-1 lead in the top half of the seventh off an RBI-double by Michelle Hewett.

The Trojans struck for the game's first run when they loaded the bases after three consecutive singles off of Oliveto (6-3). Sarah Shields was credited with an RBI when she was plunked by a pitch from Oliveto.

After only being able to register one hit through five innings, the Rebel offense woke up in the sixth with two hits and a run. Holland led off the inning with a double and then came around to score on an RBI-single by Van Acker.

Note: Emerson extended her career-best hitting streak to seven games with a hit in each contest Friday night.

UNLV returns to action Saturday with a pair of games. They will face Bradley (11:15 am) followed by Kansas (1:30 pm).