Karlyn Jones saved the day for the Nevada Wolf Pack softball team.
Jones pitched a complete-game 7-1 victory over UC Santa Barbara to salvage a split in a double header on the final day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at Cathedral City, Calif., on Sunday.
The Wolf Pack, now 7-8, had lost to UCLA 13-4 earlier in the day.
Jones allowed just a run on four hits while walking one and striking out six against Santa Barbara. She is now 4-3 this season with a 3.09 earned run average.
“I really thought we pitched well this weekend overall and that was a good sign to see from our club as we continue to ramp up towards Mountain West play,” Nevada coach Matt Meuchel said.
The Pack broke a scoreless tie with six runs in the fifth inning against Santa Barbara.
Megan Sweet and Erin Jones each had RBI singles with the bases loaded to give the Wolf Pack a 2-0 lead against Santa Barbara. Sara Parsons then drilled a two-run double to right-center to make it 4-0. Ashley Butera drove in a run with a single and Lauren Lastrapes scored Parsons with a sacrifice fly later in the inning to make it 6-0.
Erin Jones, who had a three-run double against UCLA, was 3-for-4 at the plate and Hopkins added two hits and a run. Erin Jones is now hitting .479 this season with nine doubles, two homers and 19 RBI. Hopkins is now hitting .462 with five doubles and six RBI.
Parsons is only hitting .217 on the year but six (three doubles, three homers) of her 10 hits have been for extra bases with 14 RBI. Megan Fincher scored two runs in both games on Sunday and has now scored 10 runs this season.
Megan Dortch couldn't get an out in the first game as UCLA jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead. Dortch allows five runs and four walks and two hits. Bailey Brewer pitched the final four innings in the five-inning blowout loss.
Dortch fell to 2-4 on the year with a 6.46 ERA.
The Wolf Pack will play at the Libby Matson Invitational March 1-3 in Stockton, Calif.
