Wilcks lifts Nevada

RENO - The University of Nevada softball team (20-21) inched closer to the .500 mark as freshman pitcher Jordan McPherson picked up both victories here Friday as the Pack swept WAC rival UTEP, 4-2 and 5-2.

McPherson pitched a three-hit, two-run complete game in the opener, with just one of those runs earned. She struck out five. She came on in relief of Tiffany Hoeft in the nightcap and pitched three-and-a-third scoreless innings in allowing just two hits with one strike out to improve to 10-6.

In game one, freshman Kaycee Wilcks had a two-run single in the sixth that put Nevada ahead, 3-2, and Kari Stockstill walked in Tyler Schafer to make it a three-run rally as the Pack held on for the 4-2 victory. Candice Rainwater also had an RBI in hitting her seventh home run as a leadoff hitter in the fourth inning to give the Pack a 1-0 lead.

In game two, Nevada managed just two hits in allowing eight by the Miners but UTEP committed three costly errors, two of them plus a passed ball in the fourth inning when Nevada scored three runs in coming back from a 2-0 deficit.

The Pack added two in the sixth to make it 5-2. Amanda Wise and Kristin Stith had the lone hits in game two with Stith contributing an RBI single.

Nevada hosts UTEP (14-30, 3-8) again in a single game at noon Saturday and then non-conference foe Washington Sunday in a double-header starting at 1 p.m. Admission to Nevada softball at Idlewild Park is free.