May 8, 2011

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Less than 24 hours after Tayler Van Acker's dramatic walk-off home run capped Saturday's extra-inning win for the UNLV Rebels (24-18 overall, 6-5 MWC), Ashli Holland provided the knock-out punch for Sunday's come-from-behind finish at Eller Media Stadium. UNLV entered the bottom of the seventh inning trailing the San Diego State Aztecs (29-19, 5-5) by two runs, but Holland smashed a three-run blast to deep left to hand the Rebels a 13-11 win on Mother's Day.

Down to their final-at bat Sunday, the Rebel offense channeled Saturday's mojo. Heather Harrison began things with a double to left with one out. After the second out had been recorded, Paige Emerson hit a chopper down the first-base line that rolled into right field and allowed a pinch-running Amber Petersen to score from second. Elena Fata then hit a bouncer of her own to the left-side of the infield for a single. SDSU's Jen Wisneski fielded Fata's hit, but threw wildly to first to allow both runners to move into scoring position. With first base open the Aztecs elected to pitch to the Holland, who quickly drilled Samantha Beasley's (9-7) first pitch to left center for the three-run clincher.

Holland went 2-for-4 at the plate on the day with both hits leaving the friendly confines of Eller Media Stadium. She provided five RBI and scored three runs in the win. In all, she went 7-for-9 during the two-game series against SDSU with four home runs, two doubles, nine RBI and five runs.

Overall, four Rebels had at least two hits on the day with Emerson pacing the team with a 4-for-5 effort. Besides Holland's pair of hits, Van Acker and Pauline Monreal scattered two apiece. Emerson, Monreal and Rayna Bradshaw joined Holland in the multiple-RBI department as the trio had two each.

The game began well for UNLV, as the home squad staked itself to a 6-2 lead through three frames. SDSU awoke in the fourth and saw its offense score nine runs, including six unanswered, to hold a brief 11-9 lead through 6.5 innings of play.

The Rebels got the day started with a three-run first inning. Emerson led off with a double to center before Holland knocked her in with the first of her two home runs on the day. Bradshaw stepped up to the plate later in the stanza after UNLV loaded the bases on Bailey Micetich and hit a sacrifice fly to score Tayler Aleman for the third run.

SDSU scored twice in the top of the second to pull within two, but UNLV got one run back in the bottom half off an RBI-single by Aleman that scored Emerson from second.

UNLV extended its lead to 6-2 with two more runs in the third. Monreal began the inning with a single up the middle that chased Micetich from the circle and brought Samantha Beasley into pitch. Beasley promptly hit the first batter she faced (Bradshaw) to put two on. Heather Harrison then sacrificed both runners into scoring position before Stefany Valentino and Emerson knocked them in on a sacrifice fly and an RBI-single, respectively.

Both teams scored three times in the fourth. Ashley Rose plated two and Jessica Camello brought in one when they connected on back-to-back singles for SDSU. The Rebels got the runs back after Monreal and Bradshaw went deep consecutively. Monreal's was a two-run blast to Bradshaw's solo effort.

The Aztecs then turned the momentum in their favor during their final three at-bats. They scored three times in the fifth, once in the sixth and twice more in the seventh to push out to an 11-9 lead. Kamerin May was the main culprit behind the three-inning rally, as she hit a two-run home run in the fifth and a solo shot in the seventh.

Kylie Wagner (3-2) picked up the win for UNLV in 2.1 innings of work. Wagner started the game in the circle, but only lasted for four outs before being relieved. She re-entered the game in the seventh and allowed the go-ahead run to score, but settled down do get out of the inning. She was touched for three runs on five hits and struck out one.

Amanda Oliveto threw 4.2 innings of relief and allowed eight runs (six earned) off of seven hits. Oliveto struck out three against four walks.

Beasley was saddled with the loss for SDSU in 4.2 innings of relief. She gave up eight runs off of nine hits, but struck out six.

Micetich earned a no-decision in two innings of a start. She surrendered five runs off of six hits with three walks and one strikeout.

UNLV returns to action next Thursday, May 12 (6:00 pm) when the New Mexico Lobos come to town. The game kicks off the final home stand for the Rebels, as they host Colorado State on May 13 (6:00 pm) and 14 (1:00 pm).

Notes: Holland moved up in UNLV's career record book this weekend thanks to her outstanding offensive performance ... She now ranks fourth in RBI (137); sixth in both doubles (45) and total bases (324); seventh in runs (127) and home runs (22); and eighth in hits (207).