Pack Sets Program Record in Split on Final Day of Puerto Vallarta Challenge

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PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – A 23-run outburst against Southern Illinois highlighted the Nevada softball team’s split on Saturday at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. The Wolf Pack set the program record for runs in a single game in the 23-9 win over the Salukis before falling to Northern Colorado, 6-4.

Junior Amanda Weis posted six RBI with a two-run home run over the two games while junior Danielle Wiltz went 4-for-7 with five runs scored against Southern Illinois, a new program single-game high. Freshman Chase Redington (3-4) recorded decisions in both contests for the Pack (4-16, 0-0 MW).

In what was at first a back-and-fourth affair, the Pack went up early, 3-0, in the top of the first before giving six runs in the bottom half of the inning to go down 6-3. Nevada regained the lead the very next inning by scoring five runs, including a two RBI double from Hopkins and an RBI single from junior Jasmine Jenkins, but lost the lead again after the Salukis pushed two runs across in the bottom of the second.

The Pack had already broken an 8-8 tie to take a 10-8 lead before Weis blasted a two-run homer to left center field that gave Nevada a 12-8 lead in the top of the second. Southern Illinois made it a three run game, 12-9, before the Pack pieced together an impressive offensive display in the top of the top of the fourth that helped rewrite the record books.

Eight hits and 11 runs made up the record-breaking fourth-inning which led to breaking program record for runs scored in a single game set last season after Nevada scored 21 runs against North Dakota. The Pack’s 21 team RBI and 20 team hits also tied single-game highs as the 11 run frame was enough for Nevada to secure the victory.

In the first inning against the Bears, Hopkins reached first, stole second and went to third on a single from junior Jasmine Jenkins before scoring on a passed ball. Jenkins moved to second on a walk from classmate Megan Sweet and later scored the second Pack run of the inning on a fielding error by the center fielder after a single up the middle from freshman Alyssa Mendez.

The Pack extended its lead to 4-0 after an RBI single from Hopkins that scored freshman Amanda Nicholas and a sacrifice fly from Sweet that plated Hopkins before Northern Colorado tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the third inning.

Redington kept the game tied through the fourth but the Nevada bats went quiet and Northern Colorado pushed two across in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-4 lead.

Nevada will return to Reno for its first home series of 2015 against Idaho State starting Friday, March 7 at 12 p.m.
Join the Wolf Pack softball team at Hixson Field for the 2015 season. Full season tickets start at just $60 for adults and $45 for youth eighth grade and under. Call (775) 348-PACK or visit NevadaWolfPack.com to purchase your seats today