Feb. 12, 2002

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - UNLV senior pitcher Geney Orris has been named the Mountain West Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.

Orris, a right-handed hurler from Brea, Calif., earned wins in both of her two starts last week. Her first victory came at the hands of Saint Mary's in the first-ever game played at the Rebels' new Eller Media Stadium. She allowed the Gaels just one hit and no runs while walking two and striking out six in six innings of work as UNLV cruised to a 6-2 win.

The Rebels' ace gathered a second victory four days later when she defeated No. 24 Massachusetts at the ASU Fiesta Bowl Tournament in Phoenix. Orris scattered 10 hits in the game, all singles, while striking out eight en route to her first complete game of the year. The win was against Umass' 2001 Atlantic 10 Pitcher of Year Jennifer Hadley and marked the Rebels first win over a ranked opponent since dumping then-No. 24 Cal State Northridge 7-5 last season.

Presently, Orris leads the conference with two victories and 1.08 strikeouts per inning pitched, and she ranks third in the league with a 1.62 ERA.

Also honored by the conference was Utah centerfielder Molly McLean, who was chosen as the Field Player of the Week after leading the Utes with a .419 batting average last week.

The Rebels resume play on Friday, Feb. 15, when they host the three-day, 16-team UNLV Softball Classic at Las Vegas' Desert Breeze Softball Complex.