April 19, 2006
SAN DIEGO -
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SDSU Softball To Travel To Colorado State, New Mexico This Weekend
The San Diego State softball team will be on the road this weekend as it hopes to continue its 8-0 start in the Mountain West Conference. The Aztecs (23-8 overall) will play at Colorado State (22-16, 3-7 MWC) at 1 p.m. MT Friday before a meeting with New Mexico (21-21, 2-8 MWC) at noon MT Sunday.
SDSU's 8-0 league start is its best since they began the 2003 MWC season with a 9-0 record. The 2003 season was also the last time SDSU made the NCAA tournament.
The Aztecs are No. 20 in the latest RPI rankings out of 275 schools. SDSU is ranked behind Texas A&M (16), LSU (17), Florida (18) and Baylor (19), and ahead of Georgia Tech (21), Nebraska (22), Notre Dame (23), Southern Illinois (24) and Virginia Tech (25).
The Aztecs received 14 points in the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate national poll, their most this season, and have the 27th-most points, just five behind No. 25 Florida (19 pts.).
A Look at the Rams
Colorado State (22-16, 3-7 MWC) enters Friday's game against San Diego State on a seven-game losing streak.
Jessica Strickland leads the offense with a .409 batting average, nine home runs, 36 RBI and 35 runs scored. Lauren Cusick (.386, 8 HR, 29 RBI) and Julie Kloppe (.341, 4 HR, 16 RBI) are the other top hitters, while Tara Harbert (.336) leads the MWC with 25 stolen bases. Kim Klabough (12-5, 2.44 ERA) is the Rams' top pitcher.
SDSU has won five games in a row against Colorado State, including two games earlier this season (3-1 and 4-1), and are 26-12 since 2000 versus the Rams.
Previewing the Lobos
New Mexico (21-21) is tied with UNLV for last in the MWC with a 2-8 conference record.
Kristina Schmallen (12 HR, 48 RBI) and Lindsey Elcess (8 HR, 36 RBI) lead the Lobos with a .387 batting average, and Cassie Chavez (4 HR, 27 RBI) is right behind the two at .378. Katie Gregg leads the pitching staff with a 11-6 record and 3.72 ERA.
The Aztecs will be meeting the Lobos for the 68th and 69th time, most of any of SDSU's opponents. The Aztecs lead the series, 42-25, after taking two in San Diego on April 7 (4-1 and 6-5).
For player notes, other information and the complete release, click on the PDF file