Utah Run-Rules UNLV in Las Vegas

Monday, February 16

Las Vegas, Nev. (Eller Media Stadium)

10:00 AM

University of Utah

UNLV

2/16/2015 12:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 16, 2015

Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Utah softball team closed out the UNLV Wilson/DeMarini Classic with a 10-2 win over the UNLV Rebels Monday morning at Eller Media Stadium in Las Vegas.

The Utes (7-4) hit three home runs in the game en route to run-ruling the Rebels (5-4) for a second-straight time in the series.

Bridget Castro hit her fourth home run of the season and first grand slam of her career, while Marissa Mendenhall and Kristen Stewart added solo shots and the 10 runs scored were a season-high for the Utes.

UNLV's Merina Ili helped get the Rebels on the board early with a two-run home run on the first pitch she saw from Utah starting pitcher Katie Donovan. UNLV then followed with back-to-back singles, but Donovan managed to get out of the jam with consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.

Utah countered in the top of the second inning with a solo home run from Mendenhall and then with the bases loaded, Castro's grand slam put Utah on top 5-2.

Anissa Urtez led off the top of the third inning with a single to left field and then after stealing second base, she came around to score on a pinch-hit double from Kendal Bergman. An inning later, Stewart added to the Ute lead with a solo home run to extend Utah's lead to 7-2.

The Utes tacked on three runs in the top of the sixth inning with RBI-hits from Heather Bowen, Maddy Woodard and Bella Secaira, and Mariah Ramirez shut down the Rebels in the bottom half of the inning to give Utah the win by run-rule.

Ramirez (W, 2-0) picked up her second win of the season after working the final three innings in relief of Donovan. She did not allow a run and yielded just two hits, while Donovan earned a no-decision after giving up two runs on three hits in her three innings of work.

UNLV's Morgan Ettinger (L, 1-2) earned the loss for the Rebels after giving up three runs on two hits in just 1.2 innings of work.

Kate Dickman led the Utes at the plate with two hits in four plate appearances. Nine other Utah players scattered a hit each on the day, as well.

The Utes will be back in action this coming weekend as the team heads to Cathedral City, Calif., to compete in the Mary Nutter Classic. Play will begin on Friday, Feb. 20 and will run through Sunday, Feb. 22.