April 27, 2014

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) - One day after winning a 1-0 decision in the series opener against the Fresno State Bulldogs, the UNLV softball team had the misfortune of being on the losing side of the ledger by the same score Saturday. The host Bulldogs tallied the only run of the contest off a Rebel miscue in the fourth inning.

With the loss, the Scarlet & Gray dropped to 22-27 overall and 12-9 in the Mountain West. FS, on the other hand, improved to 28-18 for the year and 12-6 in league play, respectively.

UNLV's Amanda Oliveto (12-14) and FS's Jill Compton (18-8) got the starting nod in the circle for their teams. The pair combined to strikeout eight against seven hits and two walks. Unfortunately, Oliveto was tagged with the loss in six innings. She gave up one unearned run off of three hits and one walk and two strikeouts. Compton threw all seven innings for the win. She struck out six in the triumph with four hits and one walk against her.

Neither team could muster up much offense early. The Bulldogs broke through for the game's only tally in the fourth with help from two singles, a hit batter and the Rebel fielding error. After the first batter struck out looking, three straight reached base safely with a hit batter falling in between two infield singles. Vonnie Martin stepped up with the bases loaded and hit a chopper to Jaexie Balilea at second base. Unfortunately, Balilea wasn't able to get a handle on the ball for the throw home after fielding it. Brooke Ortiz, who was situated at third base, scored with ease on the error. Oliveto was able to get out of the jam when she induced two groundouts.

The Rebels tried to manufacture the game-tying run in both the sixth and seventh stanzas, but were unsuccessful on each attempt. Balilea and Pauline Monreal had lead-off singles in the two innings, but they were unable to get past second base when the third out was recorded. A sacrifice bunt pushed both into scoring position, but Compton was able to get more outs in both frames to end any threat.

UNLV returns to Las Vegas to host a non-conference series against the Oregon State Beavers May 3-4 at Eller Media Stadium. Game one on Saturday is set for 6:00 pm, while Sunday's affair has first pitch scheduled for 12:00 pm.

NOTES: With a hit in Sunday's game, Stefany Valentino extended her hitting streaks to 21 games.