April 16, 2011
Final Stats
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels (21-16 overall, 3-3 MWC) suffered a 14-1, five-inning defeat to the Utah Utes (24-17, 2-1) Saturday afternoon in Mountain West Conference action from Eller Media Stadium. UNLV staked itself to a 1-0 lead after the first inning of play, but then witnessed Utah rattle off 14 unanswered scores to run away with the contest.
After watching the Utes go down in order in the top of the first, the Rebels appeared to follow suit, but a two-out fly ball put in play by Ashli Holland was dropped by Sandi Bowles in left to put a runner in scoring position for UNLV. Tayler Aleman followed with an RBI-single to left-center to plate Holland for an early 1-0 lead.
Unbeknownst to UNLV, that single by Aleman was the only one it would get off of Utah's Generra Nielson (16-10) during the game. Nelson settled down after the hit and recorded 10 straight outs before allowing back-to-back walks to start the fifth. She held the Rebels in-check and forced them to leave three runners on the bases throughout the affair. Besides throwing a one-hitter, she struck out four against two walks.
Utah took the lead for good in the second off a two-run home run by Whitney Holm down the left-field line. Amanda Oliveto (18-8) began the inning walking Tia Palauni, who moved into scoring position for Holm after a sacrifice bunt by Kelsi Hoopiiaina.
The Utes added 12 more runs over the final three innings to put the game out of reach. They scored seven in the third and five more in the fifth to enact the eight-run rule.
Oliveto was saddled with the loss in two innings of work. She was touched for six runs (five earned) on two hits. She walked five and struck out one.
Kylie Wagner and Traci Odegard combined to throw the final three innings for UNLV in relief. As a pair, they allowed eight runs (seven earned) on six hits. They walked five and struck out one.
UNLV hits the road next week for one game at San Diego State on Saturday (April 23) afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1:00 pm.
