THIS WEEK IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
On the strength of its doubleheader split with UNLV last weekend, BYU (36-11, 12-2 MWC) remains on top of the conference standings, with the Rebels (35-16, 11-3 MWC) trailing by one game. The Cougars hit the road this week to face New Mexico (Thursday) and Colorado State (Saturday), while UNLV takes on San Diego State on Saturday. Other conference action sees Utah at Colorado State on Friday, and Utah at New Mexico on Sunday. The Rebels are the only league team with a non-conference game this week, taking on UC Riverside on Friday.
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE QUICK HITS BYU
BYU went 5-1 last week, including a 3-1 record in MWC play...Senior Lauren Watson-Perry is second in the MWC in batting average (.435), runs scored (47), hits (64) and total bases (102)...In this week's NCAA statistics, she is ninth in runs scored (1.04 per game) and 15th in batting average (.435)...Juniors Ashlyn Russell and Paige Paramore also appear in the NCAA statistics, with Russell ranking eighth in home runs per game (0.33) and 27th in slugging percentage (.750), and Paramore 30th in RBI (43 total, 0.96 per game)...BYU hits the road for doubleheaders at New Mexico and Colorado State this week.
COLORADO STATE
Colorado State swept New Mexico in conference play last weekend...Junior Jennifer Gardner and sophomore Brittany Huerta both need just one more hit to reach 100 for their careers...Junior righthander Genevieve Kelly needs just three more strikeouts to move into third place on the CSU career charts...She currently sits in fourth with 216 career K's...Head coach Mary Yori is just six wins shy of 600 for her career...The Rams host Utah and BYU this weekend.
NEW MEXICO
The Lobos were swept by Colorado State last weekend, marking the first time that UNM has been swept in a home doubleheader this season...New Mexico ended a 25-inning scoreless streak in game two of the doubleheader...The Lobos have now lost eight games in a row, their longest losing streak of the season...Senior Ashley Shartzer currently holds UNM defensive career records in chances (1,182), putouts (1,060) and most double plays turned (40)...Sophomore Ryanne Hodgins leads the Lobos with 12 multi-hit games this season, followed by junior Cassie Chavez with eight multi-hit games...UNM hosts BYU and Utah this week.
SAN DIEGO STATE
San Diego State was swept by BYU and Utah last week...The Aztecs have now lost six straight MWC games and nine of their last 10...The San Diego State pitching staff leads the MWC in ERA (1.78), opponent batting average (.207) and strikeouts (331)...In the NCAA statistics, the SDSU staff ranks 26th in ERA (1.57)...Junior righthander Celena Velasquez leads the conference in ERA (1.29), opposing batting average (.180), strikeouts (172) and saves (five), while she is tied for seventh in the nation in saves and 39th in ERA...The Aztecs will take on UNLV in conference action Saturday in Las Vegas.
UNLV
UNLV went 3-1 last week to remain one game behing first-place BYU in the MWC standings...The Rebels' 11 conference wins this season are the most since joining the MWC in 2000...UNLV is one win away from equaling the program's single-season high of 36, set in 1996...The Rebels swept a season series from Utah for the first time ever in MWC play with their two wins on Friday...UNLV and BYU split a season series for only the second time in six years...Freshman Marissa Nichols' two home runs last week moved her into third place on the UNLV single-season list with 14 on the year...The Rebels will be in San Diego this weekend for a doubleheader vs. San Diego State.
UTAH
Utah posted a 2-2 record in conference play last week, including a doubleheader sweep over San Diego State...Senior Bryanne Durrence led the Utes with a .364 batting average last week, pushing her season average to team-high .303 (tied with Diana Phillips)...Junior Jackie Wong extended her hitting streak to a career-best five games in game two vs. San Diego State...Junior righthander Briana Gourdin has held her opponents to three or fewer hits in five of her last eight appearances...Utah is 5-2 when it has 10 or more hits in a game this season...Utah takes on Colorado State and New Mexico in MWC play this weekend.
