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CSU Softball Preview - UNLV and San Diego State
The Rams close out the regular season this weekend on the road.
May 5, 2005
Leading Off: Colorado State (29-16, 8-4 MWC) closes out the regular season this weekend on the road. The Rams will travel to Las Vegas, Nev. to take on the UNLV Rebels (37-16, 13-3 MWC) on Friday, May 6 at 5 p.m. PT/ 6 p.m. MT. Colorado State will then travel to San Diego, Calif. to take on the San Diego State Aztecs. That doubleheader, which will be televised nationally on CSTV, is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. PT/2 p.m. MT. Let It Snow, Let It Snow: Due to inclement weather in Fort Collins, the Colorado State softball team's doubleheaders against Utah and BYU on Friday, April 29 and April 30, respectively, were cancelled. The contests will not be made up at a later date. Wrapping-up New Mexico: The Rams completed the season sweep of the New Mexico Lobos on April 23, as the team picked up a 5-0 win in game one and a 5-2 decision in game two. Senior 2B Stephanie Roberts hit .714 (5-for-7) in the two games to lead the way for the Rams. The senior also added to the Rams' conference-leading doubles total, with one in each game, while scoring four times and tying her own CSU single-season walks record with her 26th free pass of the season. Sophomore P Jessica Strickland picked up the win in the Rams game-one shutout victory over the Lobos, and improved to 11-6 on the season, tying her career best for wins in season, set as a freshman. Strickland also picked up her ninth career save in game two and is now only one shy of tying Megan Masser's career record at CSU (10). The Rams have now won 14 straight games against New Mexico and are 17-4 against the Lobos under head coach Mary Yori. 250 And Counting: Colorado State Head Coach Mary Yori led the team in her 250th career game at Colorado State on April 23 at New Mexico, as the Rams swept the Lobos, 5-0 and 5-2. Yori has compiled a record of 135-115 (.540) since arriving in Fort Collins in 2000. She now ranks second in CSU history in games coached and wins behind Candi Letts who posted a record of 160-106-1 at the helm from 1994-1998. Rams' Television Debut: Colorado Sate will appear on televsion for the first time in the program's history on Sunday when the Rams take on San Diego State in a doubleheader to close out the regular season. The games will be televised nationally by CSTV. Approaching The Century Mark: Senior C Kerry Farrell is only four RBI shy of reaching 100 for her career at Colorado State and is only 10 away from breaking into the top-five all-time. Farrell, who earned First Team Easton All-American honors in 2004, more than doubled her carer RBI output as a junior, knocking in 38 runs, compared with 16 as a sophomore and 14 as a freshman. So far this season, Farrell ranks second on the team with 28 RBI. Century Mark, Part 2: Junior Jennifer Gardner and sophomore Brittany Huerta are also quickly approaching the century mark. Both are just one hit shy of reaching 100 for her career. Nationally Ranked Rams: As a team, Colorado State softball ranks nationally in three categories. The Rams rank fifth in the nation, averaging 1.67 doubles per game, led by sophomore Jessica Strickland, who ranks first nationally in that category (0.43). The Rams also rank 11th with a .315 batting average, and rank 26th with a fielding percentage of 0.970. The Rams vs. UNLV and San Diego State: Against the UNLV Rebels, the Rams hold a slim advantage all-time at 20-17. The Rams dropped two games earlier this season to the Rebels in Fort Collins by scores of 2-3 and 0-10. However, the Rams swept the Aztecs earlier this season to open up conference play at Ram Field. The Rams shut out the Aztecs 2-0 in game one, followed by a 6-2 game two decision. All-time, the Rams are now 24-26 against San Diego State. Walk This Way: Senior 2B Stephanie Roberts tied her own single-season record at Colorado State University, earning her 26th walk of the season against New Mexico on April 23. Roberts, who set the record in 2004 also ranks first on the career charts with 84 career walks. 7's 11th: Sophomore P Jessica Strickland tied her career high for wins, picking up her 11th of the season in the Rams' game-one shut out victory over New Mexico on April 23. I Don't Think It Has The Distance: Sophomore P Jessica Strickland is the only pitcher in the Mountain West Conference not to allow a home run in conference play. Cusick In Conference: In her first season with the Rams, freshman Lauren Cusick has hit her stride in Mountain West Conference play. Through 12 conference games, Cusick ranks first on the team in conference batting average (.462), slugging percentage (.846) and total bases (22). She is also tied for the team lead with two home runs, four doubles, nine RBI in league play. In two games against BYU this season, Cusick is hitting .500 (3-for-6), and is slugging above 1.000, posting a 1.167 mark. Cusick's batting average and slugging percentage rank first in the MWC in league play. She also ranks second in on-base percentage and doubles. We're Going Streaking: Four players, Brittany Huerta, Jessica Strickland, Julia Kloppe and Lauren Cusick are all riding hitting streaks of at least five games. Huerta is currently sitting on nine, one shy of her second double-digit hitting streak of the season. Strickland ranks second with an eight game hitting streak, and Kloppe and Cusick each have a hit in their last five games. Clutch Hitting: Heading into the final weekend of play in the regular
season, the Rams are hitting .301 with two outs in an inning. The Rams
have also knocked in 90 RBI in two-out situations, and allowed just 47
by opponents. In addition, four Rams, Kerry Farrell, Stephanie Roberts,
Brittany Huerta and Jessica Strickland are hitting above .400 with
runners in scoring position. Farrell leads all Rams with a .429 average,
followed by Roberts at .423. Huerta hits at a .419 clip with runners in
scoring position and Strickland ranks fourth with a .418 average.
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