Sunday, April 27, 1997

Fort Collins -- The 15th-ranked Rams swept a softball doubleheader today from San Jose State at Ram Field, 2-1 and 4-0. The wins improve the Rams to 41-10, 18-4 in the Western Athletic Conference while the Spartans drop to 19-37, 5-21 in the WAC.

With a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning, Michele Johnson, lined a two-out single to center field to score pinch-runner Sara Hyzer from second and give Colorado State its 40th win of the season. Alyson Carter started the inning with a single but was thrown out at second on a failed sacrifice attempt by Stephanie Norton. Hyzer went in to pinch run for Norton and advanced to second on a ground out by Bernadette Lamb.

Nikki Johnson improved her record to 26-4 on the season, scattering four hits and striking out six. Nikki Johnson has now won 17 of her last 18 starts in improving her school-record and WAC-leading season win total.

Erin Bennett had her strongest outing of the year, hurling a two-hitter in game two, to win her eighth decision in her last nine starts. The shutout is Bennett's second of the season and the two hits allowed is her fewest of the year as she improved her record to 12-6. Of her 63 pitches, 43 went for strikes as she struck out one and did not walk a batter. Both hits she allowed were infield singles and no SJSU runner advanced past second base in the game.

Colorado State scored all four of its runs in the third inning with Hyzer scoring the first run of the game after a wild throw by San Jose State catcher Sarah Coughlin on a double steal. Sarah Fredstrom then singled to drive in Jennifer Buford. Kelley Spence lined a single that went through the legs of Spartan center fielder Shelby Cromer to bring in Fredstrom before scoring on a Carter double.

Fredstrom went 3 for 4 in the two games and Carter was 3 for 6, including two hits in the nightcap. The sweep sets up a showdown with No. 2 Fresno State tomorrow at Ram Field. The Bulldogs took two from Utah yesterday to improve their record to 44-7, 19-5 in the WAC and percentage points behind Colorado State in the standings.

Monday's doubleheader will be broadcast locally by AM 600 KIIX. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.