April 6, 2007

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LOGAN, Utah - Defending Western Athletic Conference Tournament champion Nevada rapped out 10 hits in a span of two innings including three home runs on the way to a 9-0 five inning run-ruled victory over Utah State in softball action Friday at LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field.

USU slips to 10-22 overall and 0-4 in WAC play, as the Aggies lost for the seventh time in last eight games.

Nevada, which was making its first trip to Logan since 1986, won its ninth in a row overall and 10th in last 11 games in improving to 17-24 overall and 2-5 in WAC action.

The win was also the Wolf Pack's 10th-straight over the Aggies, with USU's last win coming in 1989, and UNR now leads the all-time series 12-11.

Friday also marked the return of former Aggie softball player and current Nevada assistant coach Liz Kelly, who is a 1983 graduate of Utah State, and was on the 1981 national champion Aggie softball team, lettering in 1981 and `82 before playing for the USU volleyball team in 1983.

Utah State Athletic Director Randy Spetman continued his career no-hitter by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.

After a scoreless first two innings of spine-tingling suspense in which each team only had one it, Nevada erupted with a five-spot in the top of the third. Kelsey Starr led off with a home run to left and Sarah Hunt followed with a home run to center. After a single and a fielder's choice, consecutive USU errors loaded the bases, and Kym Silagi followed with a two-run double down the right field line. Michelle Beach then had an RBI infield single, putting runners at first and third. UNR pinch-runner Amanda Wise stole second, and USU freshman catcher Simone Hubbard threw down to second, where junior SS Tara Evans caught and fired to junior 3B Amy Schaible to pick off Silagi at third to end the inning.

USU went down in order in the fourth, and Starr led off the fourth with another home run to left, the first of Nevada's four hits to score four runs in the inning for the Wolf Pack's nine runs in the game.

Schaible had a hit in her first at bat, before Nevada pitcher Jordan McPherson, the reigning WAC Pitcher of the Week, retired 12 straight Aggies before freshman LF Emily Reilly knocked a two-out infield single in the fifth.

Junior 1B Jamie Fife's four-game hit streak came to an end by going 0-2 Friday. Fife was 7-11 (.636) in USU's last four games prior to Friday.

Freshman Stacey Ellingsworth yielded nine runs off nine hits in three and a third innings, before giving way to sophomore Lindsey Benson, who pitched the other inning and two-thirds.

The two teams conclude their three-game WAC series with a twinbill Saturday. First-pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Johnson Field.

Saturday is "Jill Bruins Day" at the ballpark - one of the seven USU seniors to be featured.

Saturday's second game will be USU head coach Candi Letts' 700th career game. Entering Saturday, Letts has a career record of 323-374-1 (.463).

Admission to all home USU softball games is free to the public.