April 28, 2011
Final Stats
SALT LAKE CITY (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV Rebels (22-17 overall, 4-4 MWC) knocked off the Utah Utes (27-19, 5-2) by an 8-4 final score Thursday afternoon in Salt Lake City. The win was the fifth straight by UNLV over Utah at Ute Field and the seventh victory in eight tries overall in the head-to-head series.
UNLV jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead with two runs in each of the first two innings and extended its lead to five runs with an additional tally in the fifth. Utah fought back with four scores in the bottom of the sixth before the Rebels added three insurance runs in the seventh to put some distance between the two down the stretch.
Tayler Aleman got UNLV on the board in the first inning with a two-run blast to left-center that scored Ashli Holland, who initially reached on a single. Aleman's homer was her team-leading eighth of the year.
Holland pushed the Rebels' lead to 4-0 in the second with a two-run double down the line in left. Heather Harrison and Paige Emerson began the offensive before Holland's two-out hit. Amber Petersen, who was pinch-running for Harrison, scored along with Emerson on the base knock.
The fifth run scored with help from three consecutive one- out singles. Stefany Valentino and Pauline Monreal began things before Harrison connected on an RBI-single up the middle.
Utah's offense was held in-check the first five innings by Amanda Oliveto (19-9) and UNLV's defense. Oliveto only allowed two hits through the first five innings of action. The Utes managed to get on the board in the sixth with help from three hits and a Rebel error. Tara Glover's began things with a three-run home run, while Whitney Holm added another run on an RBI-single.
In the seventh, Valentino and Monreal got things going for the second time in the game when they reached via walk and a single, respectively. Harrison followed with a three-run
UNLV's offense was led by a season-tying 15 hits with Holland, Emerson and Harrison scattering three apiece, while Aleman and Monreal had two each. Harrison led all players with a four-RBI game.
Holland's three-hit effort grouped with the 197 she carried into the game gave her 200 for her career. She became the ninth Rebel in program history to achieve the feat.
Oliveto notched her 21st complete game of the season with today's outing. She allowed four runs (three earned) off of five hits with three strikeouts against two walks.
Generra Nielson (19-11) was stuck with the loss in 6.2 innings of work. Nielson was responsible for all eight runs and 15 hits amassed by UNLV. She walked five and fanned four.
UNLV returns to action tomorrow evening with a 6:00 pm MT (5:00 pm PT) contest against the BYU Cougars in Provo, Utah.
Notes: Oliveto moved up in UNLV's record book in single-season pitching categories after today's outing ... She ranks sixth in strikeouts (164) and ninth in wins (19).
