Colorado State University Athletics
Softball Preview: Louisville Slugger Desert Classic
2/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 15, 2007
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Louisville Slugger Desert Classic
Game 7 Colorado State vs. No. 9 UCLA
Friday, February 16, 2007 • Las Vegas, Nev.
1 p.m. MT
Game 8 Colorado State vs. Hawai'i
Friday, February 16, 2007 • Las Vegas, Nev.
7 p.m. MT
Game 9 Colorado State vs. No. 11 Cal
Saturday, February 17, 2007 • Las Vegas, Nev.
10 a.m. MT
Game 10 Colorado State vs. Central Florida
Saturday, February 17, 2007 • Las Vegas, Nev.
4 p.m. MT
Game 11 Colorado State vs. UC Davis
Sunday, February 18, 2007 • Las Vegas, Nev.
12:30 p.m. MT
Leading Off...
Colorado State will travel to Las Vegas, Nev. to play in the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic this weekend. The Rebels of UNLV will play host to 25 teams from around the U.S. The Rams will face No. 9 UCLA at 1 p.m. on Friday followed by an evening matchup with Hawai'i. On Saturday, the squad will face No.11 Cal and Central Florida followed by UC Davis on Sunday.
Last Time...
The UCLA Bruins hold a 3-0 all-time series advantage over the Rams. Colorado State and Hawai'i have split 14 previous games. The Rams last saw UCLA March 8, 2001, an 8-1 loss. Colorado State lost three games to Hawai'i in 1999, but were 3-1 against the Rainbow Wahine in 1998. The Rams last win against Cal came in a 6-1 victory in 1996, but the last matchup resulted in a 4-2 loss last season. Colorado State will face Central Florida and UC Davis for the first time this weekend.
Tourney Champs...
After a rocky 1-2 start in the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces Invitational, the Rams entered the semifinal game against North Texas as the No. 3 seed. The Mean Green rallied in the seventh with two runs, but fell short, giving the Rams a one-run win and a bid into the championship game with New Mexico State. The Aggies opened with a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning before the Rams' offense exploded, scoring eight runs, all off of home runs. New Mexico State came back with two runs, but couldn't catch up and fell 9-7 to give the Rams the tournament title.
Behind the Mask...
Freshman Robyn Mask was named Most Valuable Player in the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces Invitational after hitting a grand slam in the championship game to push the Rams over the Aggies, 9-7. In addition to her grand slam, Mask hit .438 with four home runs and notched eight RBI. Three other Rams joined Mask on the All-Tournament Team including freshman Kayla Kreutzman (OF), junior Lauren Cusick (DP) and senior Jessica Strickland (P). Kreutzman hit .438 for the tournament with seven hits, one double, one home run and two RBI. Cusick hit .368 with five RBI and two home runs in the championship game. Strickland posted a 2-0 record in four appearances and recorded 18 strikeouts in 19.1 innings pitched.
Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces Invitational...
For the second year in a row the Rams opened season play in Las Cruces, N.M. and posted a 3-2 record in the tournament. However, last year the Rams fell short and played in the consolation game of the Hilton Las Cruces Classic. This year they made it to the championship game against host New Mexico State to take the title in the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces Invitational.
Broadcast Ball Games...
The Mountain West Conference announced the 2007 softball broadcast schedule that includes 11 games on national and regional television. Seven will be shown on the mtn. and four on CSTV. Colorado State's double header with BYU on Apr. 19 will be featured on the mtn. beginning at 5 p.m. BYU leads the MWC with six appearances followed by San Diego State with five.
Over The Fence...
For the second consecutive season, the Rams have had a player hit four home runs in the first six games. Freshman Robyn Mask has recorded four and last year then-junior Jessica Strickland notched four before the team's seventh game. The team hit 12 long balls last weekend, the most in head coach Mary Yori's tenure during the first six games, surpassing the seven homers hit in last season's first six games.
Leading the Way...
The Rams are at the top of several categories in the MWC. They are tied for first in hits (50) with BYU, home runs (12) with BYU and lead the conference with 168 at bats. The defense also ranks first with 121 putouts compared to Utah's 114.
Ranking Rams...
Several individual players rank near the top in a number of categories for the Conference. Junior Lauren Cusick is tied for first in hits (8) with Utah's Staci Hemingway. Freshman Robyn Mask is first in home runs (4), first in total bases (20) and ninth in batting average (.412).
Senior Duo...
Brittany Huerta's three home runs over the weekend move her into a tie with fellow senior Jessica Strickland on the career home run charts with 24. They recorded eight runs and five RBI between them and are both hitting at a .316 clip after the opening weekend.
Slug Fest...
Last year Colorado State ranked sixth in the nation with a team slugging percentage of .491. After the first weekend of play, the Rams posted a .583 slugging percentage in the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces Invitational.
Saving Jess...
Senior pitcher Jessica Strickland became the school's all-time leader in saves, picking up the 11th of her career in the Rams' victory over host New Mexico State in the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces Invitational Championship. She moves past Megan Masser who recorded 10 saves from 2001-2004.
Long Ball Times Two...
Colorado State has hit four home runs in two different games this season, doing so against North Texas on Feb. 10 and New Mexico State on Feb. 11. The four home runs is the most in a single game by a team in the Mountain West Conference this season.
Fanning the Opposition...
Senior Jessica Strickland is now seven strikeouts shy of recording 250 for her career. In four appearances this season she has fanned 18 batters, bringing her career total to 243. She will become the third pitcher in school history to strike out 250 opponents.
Double Trouble...
Colorado State leads the Conference in double plays, already recording two this season.
Lucky Number Six...
Seven of Colorado State's twelve home runs this season have been hit in the sixth inning. Six different Rams have recorded long balls so far this year.
