April 14, 2011
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels (20-15 overall, 2-2 MWC) suffered a 14-0, five-inning setback to the BYU Cougars (23-14, 1-0) Thursday evening in Mountain West Conference action at Eller Media Stadium. BYU staked itself to an early 5-0 lead through three innings of action and never looked back en route to the run-ruled victory.
Both teams had an opportunity to score in the first inning, but neither took advantage of its runners in scoring position. The Cougars left runners at second and third, while the Rebels countered by leaving one stranded at third.
BYU got its offense going in the second when they scored three times off of four hits. The frame began with the Cougars scattering three consecutive singles with the last one going down as the would-be game-winner. Jessica Dugas stepped up with runners on second and third and hit an infield single to plate Carly Duckworth from third. The next two runs came off of bases-loaded situations. The inning's second run, Stacie Graham, scored on an infield single by Tiffany Messerschmidt, while the third occurred off a ground out by JC Clayton.
The Cougars added two more runs in the third with help from two hits. Caschjen Atagi led off the stanza with a home run to left that just cleared the fence. Delany Willard followed by getting hit by a pitch thrown by Amanda Oliveto (17-7). Willard then moved around the bases after a sacrifice bunt, a passed ball and an RBI-single by Dugas. The fifth run spelled the end of Oliveto's day in the circle and summoned Kylie Wagner from the dugout for a relief appearance.
UNLV attempted to mount an offensive in the bottom of the third, but a 6-2-3 inning-ending double play put a halt to it. Stefany Valentino and Paige Emerson each singled and Tayler Aleman walked to load the bases before the subsequent rally killer entered the fray.
BYU's Paige Affleck (14-9) settled down the remainder of the contest after her defense helped her out of the third. Affleck threw five innings for the complete game. She only allowed three hits, but walked three against five strikeouts.
The visitors added nine more runs to its tally in the fifth. They collected six hits and had one sacrifice fly to aid their output.
Oliveto was tagged with the loss for UNLV in 2.2 innings of work. She allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits. She struck out two and walked two, as well.
Wagner threw 1.2 innings of relief and was touched for seven runs on four hits. She walked three and fanned one.
Jessica O'Connor picked up the final two outs for the Rebels in relief, but allowed two runs off of two hits with two walks and a strikeout.
UNLV returns to action Friday evening at home against the Utah Utes. First pitch is slated for 6:00 pm.
