Nevada softball gains split against Fresno State

University of Nevada softball pitcher Katie Holverson threw a complete game and Kristin Stith and Sam Bias (Oakley, Calif.) each recorded three RBI as the Wolf Pack downed Fresno State 9-1 in five innings in game one of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Idlewild Park.

Nevada went up 4-0 in the second inning as the Wolf Pack scored four runs on four hits. Kym Silagyi started the inning with a single. One out later, Silagyi stole second and advanced to third on Katie Stith's single down the leftfield line. Kelsey Starr drew a walk, moving Amanda Nims, who came on as a pinch runner for Stith, to second. Sarah Hunt singled to left field to score Silagyi and advance Nims to third and Starr to second.

Tyler Schafer hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Nims and advancing both runners. Kristin Stith hit a double over the head of Fresno State's jumping second baseman, scoring Hunt and Starr and giving Nevada a 4-0 lead.

Fresno State posted its only run of the game as Kristin Sylvester, the first batter of the third inning, hit a solo home run over the leftfield fence. Nevada added another run in the bottom of the inning. Bias led off the inning with a single to right centerfield and moved into scoring position on Silagyi's sacrifice bunt. Katie Stith hit a two-out single to center field to score Bias, giving Nevada a 5-1 lead.

The Pack increased its lead in the fourth, as Nevada scored four runs on four hits. With one out, Schafer hit a single to third base and showed her speed on the next play, scoring from first on Kristin Stith's single. Douglas High's Brittany Puzey hit a double followed by a three-run home run by Bias to give the Pack the 9-1, five-inning victory.

Holverson pitched a complete-game for Nevada, improving to 3-11 on the season. She allowed 10 hits, one earned run, walked two batters and struck out two. Merryann Barr took the loss for Fresno State. She threw 3 1/3 innings, allowing 10 hits, eight earned runs while recording one strikeout.

Nevada ended the game with 11 hits, while Fresno State finished with 10. Kristin Stith recorded three hits, while Bias and Katie Stith each recorded two. Silagyi recorded a hit in both of Nevada's games today, extending her hit streak to 14 games.

FRESNO STATE 7, NEVADA 1

Fresno State scored seven runs on 18 hits to beat Nevada in the nightcap. With the loss, Nevada fell to 8-24 overall, 1-5 in the WAC, while Fresno State improved to 26-12 and 2-1 in the conference.

Fresno State had a 5-0 lead by the end of the second. In the third, Bias hit a solo home run, her second of the day, to cut the Bulldog's lead to 5-1.

However, Nevada could not get anymore runs across and Fresno State added two more runs in the game, one in the fourth and one in the seventh to post the 7-1 win over Nevada.

Nevada ended the game with nine hits, including three by Bias and two by each Katie Stith and Starr.

Jordan McPherson took the loss for Nevada. McPherson (5-12) threw 1 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and five earned runs, while striking out three. Holverson relieved McPherson, throwing 4 1/3 innings, allowing 10 hits and one earned run. Tiffany Hoeft-Bass closed out the game for the Pack, pitching the final inning and not allowing a hit while facing three batters.

Robin Mackin (19-6) picked up the win for Fresno State, throwing a complete game. She allowed nine hits, one earned run while striking out nine.

Nevada will stay at home and face Sacramento State in a doubleheader on Thursday starting at 2 p.m. The game will be played at Nevada's new facility, the Christina Hixson Softball Complex.