May 12, 2000

SALT LAKE CITY - UNLV eliminated BYU with a 1-0 victory in the second game of the second day of play at the Mountain West Conference Softball Championship hosted by the University of Utah today. The Rebels improved to 19-40 and advances to meet Utah in game No. 8 at 4:30 p.m. tonight. BYU finishes its season 16-27 and is eliminated from the tournament.

Geney Orris pitched a one-hitter for the Rebels and improved to 11-17 on the season. In the tournament-opener, Orris threw a no-hitter to defeat San Diego State. BYU pitcher Maryon Dewitt finishes the season with a 9-10 record despite throwing a two-hitter with five strike outs in her six innings of work.

The Rebels scored the only run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. Linda Garza led off the inning with a single to right. Dewitt hit Alvarado with a pitch to give the Rebels two runners. A sacrifice bunt by Charelle Ainslie advanced the runners and Garza scored on the fly to centerfield by Courtney McCandless.

The Cougars' only hit came in the fifth by Jackie Ellis. BYU threatened agian in the seventh when Lindsey Hodgen led off with a walk, but was doubled off when Brooke Cadiente lined out to UNLV shortstop Racheal Goodpaster.

Because of a two-hour snow delay Thursday morning, the tournament schedule was revised. Friday's 2 p.m. game will now be game No. 5 between San Diego State and Colorado State. Game No. 8 between Utah and UNLV will take place at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Game No. 7 will be played Saturday at 9 a.m. The Championship game (No. 11) on Saturday will be a "winner take all" format with if-needed games preceeding it if necessary.