UNLV Thwarts Late Drake Rally In Besting Bulldogs, 4-3

LAS VEGAS, NEV. - For the second time in as many days the Drake softball team came up one run short against UNLV (11-7) as the Rebels withstood a three-run Bulldog seventh inning to push back Drake (10-5), 4-3, on Saturday (Feb. 28) at the Eller Stadium Tournament.

UNLV took a 4-0 advantage into the top of the seventh and appeared poised for a shutout victory on the strength of the arm of Stephanie Bregante, who struck out five in 6.1 innings.

The Bulldogs though refused to go without a fight as sophomore Jenna DeLong (Dalton Gardens, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene) and junior Kelsey Kahler (North Liberty, Iowa/Clear Creek-Amana) punched out back-to-back singles to open the seventh. After Bregante got freshman Rose Magaddino (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro) to fly out to left, junior Elena Leon (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) collected a walk to load the bases.

With the bags packed, UNLV called upon Jessica O'Connor to halt the Drake rally. Junior Bridget Shields (Iowa City, Iowa/West) made O'Connor pay as she hammered the pitch over the outstretched glove of leftfielder Marissa Nichols and off the wall in left center for a bases-clearing double. Unfortunately, Shields was gunned down for the second out on a bang-bang play at third attempting to stretch the hit into the triple. Sophomore Erin Bly (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) was then retired on a liner to left to end the threat and the game.

Shields finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI. Ashli Holland went 3-for-3 for UNLV, while Nichols was 2-for-4, including a solo home run.

Sophomore Brynne Dordel (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) fanned eight for the Bulldogs but suffered her first loss of the season to fall 5-1.