Softball Splits in Day Two of the UNLV Rebel Tournament

(Minnesota boxscore) / (UNLV boxscore)

3/15/05 -- Long Island University defeated Minnesota 8-5, but fell to host UNLV 11-3, in college softball action on day two of the UNLV Rebel Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev.

Against Minnesota, LIU got on the board in the first as sophomore Randi Gillespie (Saratoga, Calif.) doubled to center that brought home senior Briana Mathiesen (Sylmar, Calif.). Minnesota knotted the game in the third on a triple from Stephanie Sward.

Freshman Vanessa Mejia (Roanoke, Va.) connected on a two-out single in the fourth to score two runs, giving the Blackbirds a 3-1 edge. The Golden Gophers tallied a run in the bottom of the inning to cut the LIU lead to one.

With the bases loaded in the fifth, sophomore Holly Erwin (Riverside, Calif.) bashed a doubled to left, clearing the bases and giving the Blackbirds a 6-2 advantage. In the bottom of the fifth, Minnesota (13-12) closed the margin to 6-3 on a double from Megan Higginbotham.

In the top of the seventh, LIU opened the lead to 8-3 before allowing two runs in the bottom of the frame. Senior Jackie Brown (Westminster, Calif.) recorded her second win of the season, going the distance for LIU. She allowed five runs and 11 hits, walked one and fanned four.

Katie Dalen tossed seven innings for the Golden Gophers, allowing eight runs and eight hits with four walks. Eight Blackbirds recorded a hit and Erwin registered a team-high three RBI. Mejia went 1-for-3 and knocked in two.

In the second game, UNLV (17-11) got on the board in the first to take a 1-0 lead. In the third, the Rebels strung together a series of hits to open a 4-0 margin.

After surrendering two more runs in the top of the fifth, the Blackbirds recorded two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the Rebels lead to 6-2. LIU was able to capitalize on three batters hit by pitches and two UNLV errors.

The Rebels blew open the game in the seventh on the strength of two homers, taking a commanding 11-1 lead. The Blackbirds added another run in the bottom of the seventh as Mathiesen singled to left to bring home freshman Brittany Murphy (Los Alamitos, Calif.).

Senior Chelsea Crosby (Reno, Nev.) took the loss, tossing seven innings and giving up four earned runs, nine hits and six walks with a strikeout. Shannon Crisp got the win, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts.

The Blackbirds play the final game of the tournament against UNLV on Wednesday at 4:00 Eastern time.