Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
UNLV
UNLV Capitalizes on Critical Errors, Overpowers Herd 12-3
2/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 11, 2007
LAS VEGAS -- The Marshall Thundering Herd committed three costly errors, while UNLV scored 10 runs over the final three innings as the Rebels took a 12-3 run-rule victory Saturday night at Eller Media Stadium.
Senior southpaw Abigail Harter (Monmouth, Ore./Santiam Christian) was unable to continue her dominance from her season-opening win over Illinois-Chicago Friday. Harter (1-1) suffered the loss, allowing 11 runs (eight earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts in five innings. Freshman Erin DeStefano (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) was credited for one run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Heather Slettvet (2-0) earned the complete-game victory, surrending three runs, while scattering six hits with six strikeouts.
Three different Rebels batters knocked in two runs, including Rosa Ordaz who went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run.
Sophomore slapper J.J. Bitner (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) went 2-for-3 with a pair of infield singles and three stolen bases. Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year Rachel Folden (Baldwin Park, Calif./Diamond Bar) went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.
The Herd (1-2) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the opening frame. Bitner led off the game with an infield single. She later stole a pair of bases, giving the Herd a runner in scoring position.
Two batters later, Folden doubled down the right field line, plating Bitner for a 1-0 lead.
UNLV (3-0) then took its first lead, authoring a two-run second inning. With two outs, Caitlyn Paus hit a two-run home run to left-center field to give the Rebels a 2-1 advantage.
Marshall, however, regained a one-run lead, 3-2, in the ensuing inning. After a Marcena Bertoldo (Beaumont, Calif./Rialto) strikeout, Bitner reached base safely with her second infield single of the game. Bitner would later score on Folden's second RBI double of the night, evening the score 2-2. The Herd then took its second lead when Samantha Rodriguez (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) scored Folden with an RBI single up the middle.
The Herd's lead would not stand, as the Rebels scored three runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead. Kendall Fearn led off with a single to center field and later advanced to second on a Bitner throwing error. Brittany Meade followed with an RBI single up the middle to tie the score at 3-3.
Rosa Ordaz then cleared the bases with a two-run home run over the left field fence, handing the host team a two-run lead. Harter finally got out of her jam, retiring the final three UNLV batters to end the inning. However, the Rebels would not relinquish their lead for a second time, as UNLV would score seven runs in the sixth inning to take the 12-3 run-rule victory.
The Marshall Thundering Herd will face the Nicholls State Colonels at approximately 12:35 a.m. (ET) for game 12 of the 2007 Alexis Resort Kickoff Classic at Eller Media Softball Stadium. Live stats will be available via www.HerdZone.com.
UNLV 12, Marshall 3 (02/09/07 at Las Vegas, Nev.)----------------------------------------------------------------------Marshall............ 102 000 - 3 6 3 (1-2)UNLV................ 020 307 - 12 9 0 (3-0)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: Marshall - HARTER; DESTEFANO(6). UNLV - SLETTVET, Heather.Win-SLETTVET, Heather(2-0) Loss-HARTER(1-1) T-2:03 A-337HR UNLV - ORDAZ, Rosa; PAUS, Caitlyn.HARTER faced 6 batters in the 6th.
