April 12, 2014
Box Score
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball team scored the final eight runs in its come-from-behind 13-12 win over the Colorado State Rams in 10 innings Saturday at Eller Media Stadium. Trailing by seven runs, the Rebels mounted an impressive comeback with four runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth before Emily Haslinger hit a solo home run - her second of the game - in the seventh for the equalizer. Three innings later, Jamie DePippo stepped up with the bases loaded and drilled the game-winning hit to left field.
With the win, UNLV improves to 17-22 overall and 7-4 in the Mountain West. CSU, on the other hand, falls to 23-10 on the year and 4-4 in league play. The Rebel triumph snapped a seven-game streak of wins by the squad from Fort Collins in the head-to-head series.
The Rebels mounted their offensive in fifth with four runs off of two hits. Stefany Valentino and Pauline Monreal led off the frame with back-to-back walks before DePippo loaded the bases with a single. Haslinger then stepped in against CSU's Molly Randle and cranked a grand slam to left. The homer ended Randle's day in the circle as the Rams' coaching staff summoned Larisa Petakoff from the bullpen.
One inning later, the Scarlet & Gray scored twice off of only one hit. Garie Blando began the sixth with a walk and then quickly made her way around the bases when Juarez laced a triple to the gap in right center. A ground out by Valentino allowed Juarez to score to pull UNLV within one.
Haslinger led off the seventh with a solo shot to knot the game at 12-all against Petakoff.
After two scoreless frames, UNLV was able to force CSU's Holly Reinke (12-5), who took over the pitching duties after Haslinger's seventh-inning homer, into a bases-loaded situation. Juarez started off the final inning with a double before Valentino joined her on the bases with a bunt single. Monreal was promptly intentionally walked to load the bases. DePippo stepped in and hit a would-be game-winner down the line in left, but it was called foul. A couple pitches later she turned on a pitch and put it in left for the win.
Amanda Oliveto (9-13) picked up the win for UNLV in 5.1 innings of scoreless and hitless relief. Oliveto came into the game of the fifth to curtail the Rams' offense for the day. Oliveto struck out one against one walk.
The teams began the game matching each other run for run. CSU opened up the scoring with an RBI double by Chelsea O'Connor while Valentino answered back with an RBI triple.
In the second, the Rams pushed four across with an RBI double by Haley Hutton and then a three-run homer from O'Connor. The Rebels countered with an RBI single moments before executing a double steal by Kwyn Cooper and Blando. Cooper scored on the play. Moments later, Juarez joined Blando on the bases with a single before Valentino had a two-run double for the equalizer.
For the game, UNLV got a hit from eight of its nine starters and multiple-hit games from six of them. Juarez and Valentino led the Rebel offense with three hits apiece. Scoring wise, Haslinger had a team-best five RBI while Valentino knocked in four of her own.
Reinke went three innings in the circle for the loss. She allowed one run off of seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
NOTES: With help from her three hits, Valentino extended her hitting streak to a season-best 11 games ... Valentino's four RBI were a personal best while her three hits tied a career high ... Haslinger's five RBI were a personal best while her two runs scored tied a career high ... Juarez's three hits tied a career high ... The seven conference wins matches the output by the 2013 Rebels.
