Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV softball (8-7) dropped two games to Kansas (7-7) on Saturday at USF Softball Stadium, losing the last round robin game of the USF Tournament 4-2 and the playoff bracket game 7-3. The Jayhawks advanced to the championship game tomorrow after hitting a walk off grand slam in the seventh inning.

In the first game of the day Kansas scored one run each in four innings to beat the Rebels. The Jayhawks took the lead for good in the second inning on a two-out RBI single to left field that gave them a 2-1 advantage over the Rebels.

The Rebels had tied the game in the first inning with one swing of the bat. Garie Blando homered to center field, the first of the season for Blando, on the second pitch faced to quickly give the Rebels a run scored. UNLV loaded the bases afterwards when Janine Petmecky doubled to center field on the next pitch, Alyssa Cordova walked and Courtney Beavers reached base on an error at third base. A foul out however ended the inning to strand all three baserunners.

Down 3-1 in the sixth inning Petmecky cut UNLV's deficit in half with a solo home run to center field. The Jayhawks added another run in the final inning, and UNLV was unable to get anyone on base in the 7th. The Rebels' only other hit was a Kwyn Cooper single to left field in the fourth inning.

Cooper pitched her second complete game of the season, allowing eight hits, four runs and two walks with three strikeouts.

Kansas was able to stake a 3-0 lead in the first inning in the second game of the day. After a walk and single to start the first, the Jayhawks hit back-to-back doubles to score all three runs.

UNLV tied the game in the seventh inning off the bat of Cordova. Blando led off the inning with a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jamie DePippo. With two outs, Cordova singled to left field to bring in Blando.

The Jayhawks led off the seventh with a single and moved the baserunner to second on a sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk, the bases became loaded on a hit by pitch before the grand slam.

UNLV's first run of the game came in the second inning. Cooper led off with a walk, and then Francesca Foti got an infield single near the pitcher. A sacrifice bunt by Alyssa Batastini advanced both baserunners, and with two outs Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez hit a double through the left side to knock in Cooper.

DePippo led off the third inning and was hit by a pitch. She reached third base after a groundout and fly out, but was stranded on base with a strikeout ending the inning.

The Rebels knocked in another run in the fourth inning. Batastini led off with a triple to center field. After Brooke Stover drew a walk, Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez hit a grounder to the pitcher that allowed Batastini to reach home safely. UNLV loaded the bases with two outs in the inning, but a strikeout stranded Jamie Hatch, Blando and DePippo on base.

Batastini recorded every pitch for UNLV. Between the first and last innings she gave up only five hits and no walks with two strikeouts for five scoreless innings.

Petmecky was the only Rebel to record more than one hit on the day, going 3-7 with a double, home run.

UNLV will face Wisconsin tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. PT in the consolation game of the tournament. The Rebels defeated the Badgers 14-3 in six innings yesterday in the first game of the tournament.