Final Stats
Feb. 17, 2017
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV softball program (7-2) wrapped up the 2017 DeMarini Desert Classic with a 1-0 shutout win over Idaho State (0-3) on Sunday at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park in Henderson.
The Scarlet & Gray's morning game vs Memphis was canceled due to the inclement weather that rolled through the Las Vegas Valley making the fields at Eller Media Stadium unsafe to play. With the win, the Rebels went 4-0 over the DeMarini Desert Classic, defeating Northern Iowa 8-7 on Thursday, Weber State 6-5 and UTEP 8-4 on Friday as well as today's win over Idaho State 1-0.
In the second inning, Mara Kemmer's second groundout of the game turned out to be the game-winner for UNLV. After Karly Bunderson and Myranda Bueno reached base on fielding errors, Jadelyn Yadao-Valdez chopped one right in the front of the catcher for a base hit to load the bases. Kemmer then hit into a fielder's choice bringing home Bunderson for the lone run of the game.
Morgan Ettinger (6-0) allowed four hits, struck out five and walked three in her complete game shutout. She has now struck out 28 batters this season, the most by a Rebel as well as this being the third time she has gone the distance.
A total of seven hits were recorded in the game with UNLV taking three of them. Briana Gatlin, Bueno and Yadao-Valdez had the Rebel hits, while Idaho State's were put in play by Alex Portesi, Ashlyn Ames, Emma Bordenkecher and Jennie Murillo.
The Bengals came close to scoring in the second when they had runners on second and third with one out, but Ettinger struck out Genesis Zamora and then threw a high fastball to Mackenzie VanSickle, which led her to pop-out to Yadao-Valdez at third. In the third, Ettinger allowed a single and two walks, but she escaped the bases loaded jam getting the third out via strikeout. The fifth inning saw Harrison catch Kacie Burnett trying to steal second, followed by a pop-out to Yadao-Valdez to end the inning.
Idaho State made the game interesting in the top of the sixth. With one out, Harrison's sister Haley from Idaho State reached first on a fielding error. After Ettinger struckout Kelsey Breer, Murillo pinch-hitted for Zamora and she hit a comebacker off of Ettinger's throwing arm, advancing Haley to third. With two outs, Idaho State brought in Aubrey Creekmore to pinch-hit for VanSickle, but the Bengal batter popped out to Justine Federe drifting towards Kemmer in right field. Ettinger put down the Bengals in order to record the complete game shutout.
Next up, UNLV travels to the Aloha State in Honolulu competing in the Bank of Hawai'i Invitational Feb. 24-26 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on the campus of the University of Hawai'i. The Rebels are set to take on Oregon on Friday night at 6:00 p.m PT followed by Hawai'i at 8:30 pm PT.
