Darr and Nicholson ignite Stars’ offense

Monday, April 10, 2000 | 10:09 a.m.

CALGARY --- The weather may have been better suited for ice hockey, but that didn't slow down the hot bats of the Las Vegas Stars here on Sunday afternoon.

Despite a game-time temperature of 38 degrees and a wind chill in the teens, the Stars (3-1) banged out 11 hits, including home runs by center fielder Mike Darr and shortstop Kevin Nicholson, en route to a 7-1 victory over the Calgary Cannons (1-3) at Burns Stadium.

After getting no-hit for eight innings in Friday night's season-opener, the Stars rebounded to score 29 runs and bang out 39 hits in sweeping the final three games of the series.

Darr went 3-for-4 and had two RBIs while Nicholson was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, including a two-run homer in the second inning off Calgary starter John DeSilva (0-1) that upped the Stars' early lead to 3-0.

Las Vegas right-hander Junior Herndon (1-0), making his first triple-A start, pitched five innings and allowed just four hits and one run. Relievers Jayson Durocher, Matt Whiteside and Derek Root then combined to one-hit the Cannons over the final four innings.

After the game, the Stars bused four hours to Edmonton, where they are scheduled to open another chilly three-game series against the Trappers tonight. Lows are expected to dip into the high teens all three nights.