Players shine as Rams keep winning
Riding a six-game win streak, the Rams take their potent offense
and dominant pitching into a match-up with conference opponent
UNLV. Thursday at Rams Field, CSU looks to improve its record with
two more wins against a team they have already dominated this
season.
“We’re a better team and we should sweep them. We took the last
two games and we don’t expect any different this time,” junior
Steph Roberts said.
The Rams beat the Rebels earlier this season in Las Vegas by
margins of 5-1 and 7-3.
Now at 30-11 on the season with a 6-2 conference record, the
Rams have moved into second place in the conference standings. They
now sit one game behind SDSU, who will play CSU at Rams Field on
Sunday.
“We’re really happy right now with our conference record but you
know, we’re right there with San Diego State,” head coach Mary Yori
said. “These next few games are really important and we have to go
out strong.”
The UNLV Rebels are 22-27 on the season with a 4-6 conference
mark. Led by senior Bridget Byrne’s .414 batting average, the
Rebels offense hopes to break CSU’s strong pitching staff. UNLV
should be hungry for some wins after a couple close loses to SDSU
this past weekend.
Two players for the Rams that have stepped up lately are senior
Ricki Walker and sophomore Genevieve Kelly. Walker received
Conference Player of the Week while Kelly was named Pitcher of the
Week for their contributions against BYU and Utah. Walker, playing
mostly in left field due to a change in the lineup perpetrated by
injuries, batted .500 (6-for-12), with six RBIs, and home run in
four games last week. For the season she is hitting .425 with 31
RBIs. Kelly was just as impressive, but from the pitchers circle.
She fanned 11 batters in 11.2 innings while improving her record to
8-2 on the season with a 2.08 ERA.
While CSU players have been shuffled around the diamond, it
would appear that they have been unaffected. The last four games
the Rams have outscored their opponents 23-5.
If healthy, Katie Dean will resume play in center field but the
outfield will be without sophomore Jennifer Gardner. She is out
with an arm injury that will last at least three weeks. Prior to
the injury, Gardner was having a very solid year batting .362.
“We’re not exactly sure on the lineups yet but what we’re going
to try to do is get our best bats in there,” Yori said.
The double header swings into action Friday at 1 p.m.
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