University of Nevada Las Vegas
Utah State
4/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV softball fell to Utah State 7-3 in game one of the three-game weekend series on Friday night at Eller Media Stadium. The Rebels drop to 18-18, 2-5 while the Aggies improve to 14-13, 2-2.
Utah State broke a 2-2 tie in the third inning and scored five straight runs to take the lead for the rest of the game. In the third inning the Aggies hit a one out double to right center that knocked in two baserunners that reached base on a single and walk.
The Aggies used a two-out triple to right field to score two more runs in the fourth inning. A wild pitch in the next at-bat allowed Utah State to add to its lead with the third run of the inning.
The two teams had traded runs in the first two innings, and the Aggies had taken an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. After a leadoff walk two straight two-out singles produced a run.
UNLV answered back with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Garie Blando singled to right field to lead off the inning and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jamie DePippo. Blando then stole third base with two outs and raced home for a run on an errant throw that went past the third baseman.
Utah State retook the lead in the second inning on a leadoff home run by Victoria Saucedo to left field.
The Rebels momentarily tied the game back up in their turn at the plate in the second inning. With two outs Myranda Bueno reached on a fielding error by the third baseman and stole second base. After Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez singled Blando hit a RBI-single to third base to knock in Bueno.
UNLV was able to score one more run in the fifth inning. Janine Petmecky singled to left field and advanced to second base on a fielding error. Petmecky went to third base after tagging up on a fly out to right field and scored on a single to right field by Francesca Foti.
Morgan Ettinger pitched three scoreless innings of relief to record the last nine outs for the Aggies. Ettinger gave up just one walk and no hits with two strikeouts. Petmecky started the game in the circle and surrendered six hits, five runs and three walks in three innings. Kwyn Cooper threw the fourth inning and allowed three hits, two unearned runs and one walk.
Alyssa Cordova, Blando and Haslinger all finished with two hits each.
UNLV faces Utah State tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. for the second game of the series.
