Tuesday, April 1, 1997

FORT COLLINS -- TheRams softball team is ranked 16th in tomorrow's USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll. The Rams moved up one spot from 17th 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 went 4-0 last weekend in a pair of WAC doubleheaders versus Tulsa. Saturday the Rams won 18-1 and 7-2 and Sunday they defeated the Golden Hurricane 8-0 and 10-1.

The Rams' 8-2 mark in conference play is their best start since joining the WAC in 1991. Thisyear also marks the second-best overall start in school history. The 1989 squad was 32-7 after 39 games on the way to a 37-14 overall record. The 37 wins by the 1989 team is the schoolrecord for wins in a season. The Rams have 22 games remaining on the 1997 schedule.

Colorado State has now won 15 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 31-8, 8-2 in the WAC. Colorado State needs just six wins in its final 22 games to tie the school record for wins in a season set by the 1989 team.

Senior pitcher Nikki Johnson won her 20th game of the season Sunday. She is now tied with Kristy Wirth for the Colorado State record for wins in a season. Wirth had 20 in 1989.

The Rams hit the road this weekend for WAC games at New Mexico and UNLV. Saturday, Colorado State and New Mexico meet in a noon doubleheader and Sunday the Rams meet the Rebels in a noon doubleheader.