April 11, 2014
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team dropped a 7-5 decision to the Colorado State Rams Friday night at Eller Media Stadium in Mountain West play. The Rams struck early and often with six runs - five of which were scored in the opening frame - through two innings of play and never looked back in the contest. The Rebels managed to fight back by scoring five of the affair's final six runs, but the offensive wasn't enough to overcome the early deficit.
With the loss, UNLV drops to 16-22 on the year and 6-4 in the MW. CSU, on the other hand, improves to 23-9 and 4-3, respectively.
The visitors from Fort Collins, Colo., jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead behind a four-hit first inning. Haley Hutton got the frame kick started with a single. Hutton, ultimately, scored the game's first tally off a run-scoring single by Chelsea O'Connor. Later on, Chelsea Biglow and Alyssa Greckel knocked in a pair each off extra-base hits - a double and a home run.
CSU's lead increased to six runs in the second when Kendal Butterfield, who led off the inning by getting hit by a Amanda Oliveto (8-13) pitch, scored the lone tally off a passed ball.
Samantha Juarez was able to get the Rebels their first run of the game when she took Holly Reinke's (12-4) offering deep to left for a solo home run.
UNLV plated two more runs an inning later off a two-run single by Garie Blando. With the bases loaded due to a pair of fielder's choices and a single by Emily Haslinger, Blando delivered the team's second hit of the frame to pull her squad within three at 6-3.
The Rams' offense had been kept silent for four innings thanks to Morgan Ettinger, who entered in relief of Oliveto in the second. Ettinger had held CSU in check until it's offense added an insurance run in the seventh. O'Connor began with a double and then took to third off a single by Danielle Wikre. Ashlie Ortega then brought O'Connor home with a sacrifice fly to left.
The Rebels were able to score twice in the seventh off a two-run homer by Haslinger. Alyssa Cordova scored on the bases-clearing hit after she had reached off a fielder's choice. Unfortunately, Reinke settled down and was able to get the next two batters she faced to strike out and fly out.
Reinke went the distance for CSU and earned a complete game. She was touched for five runs (three earned) off of six hits. She struck out four against one walk.
Oliveto was saddled with the loss in only an inning of work. She gave up six runs (five earned) off of four hits. Ettinger, who struck out three, threw six frames of relief and allowed one run off of five hits and one walk.
UNLV and CSU return to Eller Media Stadium Saturday for the second game of the conference series. First pitch is slated for 1:00 pm.
NOTES: With help from her fourth-inning single, Valentino extended her hitting streak to a season-best 10 games.
