Box Score Feb. 11, 2012
Final Stats
DAVIS, Calif. - Despite two seventh-inning home runs in a late rally, the University of Nevada softball team fell 7-3 to Boise State Saturday, in its second game at the Aggie Stampede.
The loss dropped the Wolf Pack to 0-2, while the Broncos improved to 3-0.
Three Nevada pitchers took to the circle in the defeat. Ariel Craig started the game, going two and a third and giving up two earned. She went one, two, three in the second throwing only eight pitches.
Nevada had promising at bats early, as right fielder Megan Fincher had an extra-base hit taken away from her in the second. Bronco center fielder Tara Glover made an over-the-shoulder catch at the warning track.
Pitcher Karlyn Jones saw her first action of the 2012 season Saturday, coming in with two runners on and nobody out in the third and limiting Boise to one run. Jones gave up five runs on six hits in the fourth, before Bailey Brewer came in with two outs and a runner on first.
Alex Arciniega was the Pack's first base runner, reaching on an error in the third and stealing second. She was stranded there by Karley Hopkins, who grounded out hard to the pitcher. Hopkins flashed some serious leather in the fourth, making a spectacular diving play behind third to record the first out.
Catcher Ashley Butera singled to center for her first collegiate hit, as well as Nevada's first hit of the day, with one out in the fifth. The freshman from Saugus, Calif. was the only change to the lineup in the season's second game. She started in place of Chelsey Venable and hit sixth in the Pack lineup.
The Pack had the makings of a rally on a few occasions before the seventh, including the sixth inning. Molly McWilliams led off the inning with a five-pitch walk. Hopkins hit a sinking liner into center two batters later, only to have Glover take another hit away with a diving catch. The frame ended without Nevada pushing a run across.
Butera showed her defensive ability as well on Saturday, exacting a little revenge on Glover in the process. She threw her out trying to steal second for the first out of the sixth. McWilliams ended the inning with a backhanded play down the line to get Nevada to the plate with three outs left.
Lastrapes blasted a 1-2 pitch over the right-field fence to lead off the seventh, putting some life into the Nevada dugout in the final frame and making the score 7-1. Sam Puzey recorded her first hit of the season behind her, doubling into left field. Butera drove Kortnee Wiley in on a sacrifice fly with one down to pull Nevada to within five. Wiley ran for Puzey at second base. Following Butera, Sara Parson hit a Kenzie Cole fastball over the fence in left for Nevada's third run. Nevada was unable to complete the comeback however, as McWilliams grounded out to first to end the game.
Butera was 1-2 with an RBI. Craig took the loss to fall to 0-1, while Boise State starter Aubrey Zell won and moved to 2-0.
Nevada will take on UC Davis at 3 p.m Saturday, in its final game on day two.
