Tuesday, March 25, 1997

RAM SOFTBALL RANKED 17TH IN LATEST POLL

FORT COLLINS-- The Colorado State University softball team is ranked 17th in the this week's USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll. The Rams moved up two spots from 19th where they landed for the first time in eight years last week.

The top five spots remain unchanged from last week with Arizona No. 1, Western Athletic Conference rival Fresno State No. 2, UCLA No. 3, South Carolina No. 4 and Washington No. 5.

Colorado State won the Creighton Spring Classic in its latest action Saturday and Sunday. The Rams defeated Drake 5-0, Missouri-Kansas City 12-0 and Creighton 7-1 Saturday. Sunday, they defeated Missouri-Kansas City 10-2, Creighton 2-1 and Drake 6-1.

Colorado State has now won 11 games in a row, the second-longest streak in school history. The 1989 squad, the last to be ranked at Colorado State, won 17 in a row to set the school record. The Rams are now 27-8, 4-2 in the WAC. Colorado State needs just 10 wins in its final 26 games to tie the school record for wins in a season set by the 1989 team.

The Rams open home WAC play with a pair of doubleheaders against Tulsa Saturday and Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. both days.