March 3, 2007
The UNLV softball team (13-9) snapped its three-game losing streak Saturday night, which included a 5-4 loss to California (13-8), with a 3-0 blanking of Southern Utah (9-10) at the UNLV Invitational.  The Rebels improved its record in the tournament to 1-3 with the shut out victory.  

In the nightcap of Saturday’s six-game slate at Eller Media Stadium, the Rebels squared off against Southern Utah after the Thunderbirds were riding a high note after upsetting Fresno State, 1-0, directly before their tilt.

The game was a pitcher’s duel until the fourth inning when the offenses began to wake up.  SUU notched its first hit of the game in the top of the fourth, while UNLV countered with two.  Neither team could capitalize on their base runners, as the Rebels had their best opportunity caught in a rundown between third and home.

The fifth inning was a different story.  Christie Robinson (5-1) ran into a little trouble in the fifth inning, but was helped out by her Rebel defense to end the Thunderbird threat.  Robinson gave up a single and then hit a batter.  With runners on first and second, Erin Niederhauser laced a single to left field that Jenn Newman fielded and the came up firing to Bri Bernardi covering home.  Bernardi caught the ball and tagged Bobbi Jo Merrill out at home for the first out of the inning.  Lindi Kennedy, who was hit earlier by the pitch, attempted to steal third, but was gunned down by a perfect throw from Bernardi to Brittany Meade.  Robinson then got Caroline Fernandez to ground out to Meade to end the inning.

UNLV’s offense countered SUU’s attempt by putting two runs on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame.  Bernardi led off the inning with a walk issued by Marissa Gonzalez (3-3).  Caitlyn Paus then came in to pinch run for Bernardi and then stole second directly after SUU brought Kristina Brooks in from the bullpen.  Kelli Fangonilo then nailed a triple to left to bring home the only run that the Rebels would need in the win.  With Fangonilo sitting on third, Newman took a base on balls and proceeded to steal second.  Alyssia De La Torre then loaded the bases with a walk.   Brooks then walked in the second run of the inning with four straight balls thrown to Jaci Hull.

Heather Slettvet entered the game in relief of Robinson to start the sixth with a two-run cushion.  Slettvet shut down the Thunderbirds in her two innings of work.

The Rebels added an insurance run in the sixth with help from singles from Fangonilo and Brittany Freight.  Fangonilo stepped up to the plate with two out and delievered a hit through the right side.  Freight then entered the game as a pinch-hitter and delivered a base-knock to right center, which moved Fangonilo to third.  The Rebels then executed a double steal with Freight moving first towards second and Fangonilo broke home.

Robinson notched the win 5.0 innings of scoreless work.  She struck out three and gave up only three hits.  

Slettvet picked up the save in her two innings of relief.  She allowed one hit and one walk and struck out one.

Gonzalez took the loss in 4.0 innings.  She gave up one run on two hits, walked one and struck out one.

Brooks gave up two runs in 2.0 innings of work.  She struck out three and walked two, but gave up four hits.

In the Rebels’ first game, errors came back to haunt UNLV’s rally attempt in the 5-4 loss.  California took a 4-0 lead after four innings of play, but watched the Rebels creep back into the game late.

The Golden Bears put runners on first and second in the third and attempted a double steal.  Bernardi threw towards third, but the throw hit Morgan Siegel and rolled into the Rebel dugout.  Siegel made her way to home plate, while Erika Racklin took third.  Christina Schallig brought Racklin home with a single up the middle off of Stephanie Bregante (4-4).

Cal struck for two more runs in the fourth after putting runners at first and second.  With two out, Siegel and Racklin made their way home for the second time each when Jenn Newman dropped a fly ball in right field hit by Schallig.

UNLV cut the deficit to two in the fifth on a triple by Newman and a double by Hull.  Newman brought Fangonilo home, who got on base with a single, and then scored on Hull’s hit.

Cal got one run back in the seventh on two singles.  Schallig began the inning with a hit through the left and then she came around on a hit through the left side by Alex Sutton.  

The Rebels got two runs in the seventh, but left the tying run on third to end the game.  Fangonilo and Newman reached on a single and a hit-by-pitch, respectively.  Hull brought both of them home with a triple to right.  With Hull on third, Brittany Meade ended the game with a strike out.

Lauren Frankiewicz (4-3) picked up the win in 4.0 innings of relief.  Frankiewicz relieved Brittany LaRosa, who got the start.  Frankiewicz allowed all four runs on five hits and got seven to strike out.

Bregante took the loss in the first four innings of the start.  She allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out four, while walking three.

Slettvet tossed the final three innings and gave up one run on two hits.  She struck out three and walked one.

The Rebels return to action at 5:00 pm on Monday with a doubleheader against Delaware State.  The UNLV Invitational continues on Sunday without the Rebels.  For full tournament coverage check out the link off of the softball page at UNLVRebels.com