University of Nevada Las Vegas
Portland State
2/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Starting pitcher Kwyn Cooper and Alyssa Batastini combined for a four-hit shutout to lead UNLV softball to a 7-0 win over Portland State in the final game of the DeMarini Desert Classic on Sunday afternoon at Eller Media Stadium. The Rebels scored runs in all but one inning to improve to 7-4 while the Vikings remain winless at 0-10.
The Rebels knocked in their first run of the game in the second inning. Cooper was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and went to second on a single by Myranda Bueno. Courtney Beavers drew a walk on a full count to load the bases. With two outs Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez hit an infield single to bring home Cooper.
Another run was added in the third inning. Alyssa Cordova doubled to center field with one out and stole third base. Bueno knocked in Cordova with a single to right field.
In the fourth inning Beavers reached first base on a fielding error and stole second. Janine Petmecky moved her to third base on a single through the left side. Petmecky attempted to steal second and got in a throw down that allowed Beavers to steal home before Petmecky was tagged out near first base.
UNLV added two runs each in the next two innings. In the fifth inning Cordova drew a walk with one out, and Jamie Hatch pinch ran for her. A fielding error allowed Hatch to go to second base and Cooper to reach base. Both baserunners advanced one base on a wild pitch in the next at-bat. Another fielding error allowed Hatch to come home, and Bueno reached base on the fielder's choice and went to second. A sacrifice fly to right field by Emily Haslinger knocked in Cooper to stretch UNLV's lead to five.
The final two runs were scored in the sixth inning. Chrissi Omalza led off with a single up the middle, and Batastini singled in the next at-bat through the left side. With one out Cordova singled through the left side to load the bases. Cooper then hit a single through to left field that was deep enough to allow Yadao-Valdez and Batastini to run home safely.
Cooper (3-0) pitched six innings, giving up four hits with one strikeout. She only allowed a baserunner to reach second base twice in the game, and catcher Brooke Stover picked off one of the baserunners in the second inning at second. Batastini retired the side to end the game with a pop out to Cordova and two groundouts.
Cordova and Bueno led UNLV with two hits, and Haslinger picked up her team-leading 11th RBI of the season. Five other Rebels registered a hit in the win.
The Rebels will leave Las Vegas for the first time this season for their next four games. UNLV will participate in the USF Tournament next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 26-27), facing Wisconsin in the first game at 8:30 a.m.
