April 16, 2000

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebel softball team lost a two-game series to Mountain West Conference leader New Mexico 7-5 and 8-2 Sunday at the Rebel Diamond. New Mexico improved to 7-1 in league play and 29-12 overall. The Rebels dropped to 15-31 on the year and 1-7 in Mountain West play.

In a day that began by honoring the seniors on the team, UNLV quickly lost the spark ignited through the celebration. The Rebels struck in the 1st inning with a RBI (23) double by Geney Orris. Later in the third, Racheal Goodpaster slammed a three-run homerun (11) to put the Rebels up 4-0.

Just when UNLV thought it might upset the No. 1 seed in the MWC, New Mexico showed exactly why they are in first place. The Lobos rallied to score seven runs in the 5th inning that was capped by a grand slam by sophomore Brook Chaffee.

The Rebels scored one more run in the 5th to pull them to within two, but would not move any closer as the Lobos kept UNLV scoreless for the rest of the game.

In the nightcap, New Mexico would be one the board first, scoring one run in 1st. U of NM added three more in the 4th to pull ahead of the Rebels 4-0.

In the 5th, UNLV would answer with a two-run shot by Goodpaster. The Rebel shortstop leads the team with 12 homeruns and 32 RBI. She needs just three more long balls to tie the UNLV record of most home runs in season (15).

New Mexico then blew the game wide open in the 7th with three-straight homeruns including a two-run shot by senior pitcher Danielle Cassara.

The Rebels head to the road to take on Utah on April 21 and BYU on April 27.