Friday, May 16, 1997

Amherst, Mass.-- Colorado State backed the three-hit pitching of Nikki Johnson with a 10-run, 10-hit attack, defeating Brown University, 10-0, in the opening round of the NCAA Regional Softball tournament. Colorado State, in the school's first-ever post-season appearance, is the top seed in the four-team regional. Colorado State is now 50-12 on the season.

Colorado State, by virtue of the victory, advances to the winner's bracket of the double-elimination tournament, facing host UMass at 10 a.m. (MDT)/12 noon (EDT) Saturday. If the Rams win the game, they move into the finals Sunday. Should Colorado State lose Saturday to UMass, the Rams play an elimination at 3 p.m. (MDT)/5 p.m. (EDT)

Johnson struck out the final six batters she faced in the game, which was ended following the top of the fifth inning by the eight-run rule. She finished the game with eight strikeouts, allowing three hits and walking none. She is now 32-5 on the year.

The scariest moment of the game for the Rams came in the top of the third, when Brown's Becky Kellar's hit bounced up and grazed Johnson's face. She received on-field medical attention and remained in the game.

The Rams handed Johnson all the offensive support she would need in the bottom of the first when Jen Buford walked to lead off the game and scored on Sarah Fredstrom's ground-rule double. Amber Solano, who followed Buford's walk with a single, advanced to third on Fredstom's hit and scored on Kelly Spence's sacrifice fly. Fredstrom moved to third on Spence's fly out and scored on Stephanie Norton's sacrifice fly.

Colorado State added two more runs in the third on Spence's two-run double, and closed the scoring with five more runs in the bottom of the fourth.