Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
UNLV
Late rally lifts Rebels over Rams
4/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 24, 2009
By Tawny Dennis
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – UNLV’s Ashli Holland, a Colorado native, launched a two-out grand slam over the left field fence in the top of the seventh inning to give the Rebels (27-17, 3-6 MWC) a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Colorado State (21-21, 4-4 MWC) Friday at Ram Field.
Colorado State junior Sara Sullivan tracked Holland’s blast all the way to the fence, and narrowly brought the home run back into the yard, but it hit off of her glove to cap the Rebels’ late-inning comeback.
Sophomore Caitlan Stem and freshman Jenna Krogh each finished the game 3-for-4 for the Rams and the duo recorded all five of the CSU’s RBIs in the contest.
After the Rebels jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, Stem homered in the bottom of the third inning to cut the UNLV lead to 2-1. She added two more RBI in the bottom of the fifth inning when she singled to right field to plate senior Shannon Causgrove and junior Rebecca Penland to make the score 5-2.
Krogh followed Stem’s hit in the fifth with a bunt single, one of her three infield singles in the game, to plate Sullivan and give the Rams a 6-2 leading heading into the final two innings.
The Rams threatened again the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior Allison Majam led off the inning with a single to left field, advanced to second on a wild pitch and reached third on a two-out single to short stop by freshman Ashley MacQueen. However, the Rams stranded Majam and MacQueen when Sullivan was fanned by UNLV pitcher Jessica O’Connor.
UNLV capitalized with Holland’s grand slam in the seventh inning, and the Rams stranded Krogh, the 13th CSU runner left, in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Freshman Kelli Eubanks (8-9) started the game in the circle for the Rams and tossed 6.2 innings before being relieved by senior Kim Klabough, who retired Elena Fata to close out the UNLV seventh.
The Rams will look to rebound from the tough loss Saturday afternoon, playing host to San Diego State on at 3 p.m. It is “Ram Club Appreciation Day” at Ram Field and the CSU Spirit Committee will be on hand to cook up some delicious barbecue for Ram Club members. Just bring your Ram Club membership card to the field to get your free meal.
