Feb. 20, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
STORYLINE: The UNLV Softball team (4-10) hosts its first mini-tournament this weekend with 10 games set for Friday, Feb. 21-Sunday, Feb. 23 at Eller Media Stadium. The Rebels, along with Tennessee, Syracuse and Louisiana-Monroe, will play a round-robin schedule before advancing into bracket play to determine the tourney champ. Play will begin at 10:00 a.m. PST on Friday and Saturday, with four games slated for both days. The last two games on Saturday will be bracket play-in games to determine which teams will play in Sunday's consolation and championship. Consolation and championship games have been moved ahead one hour, to 9 and 11:30 a.m. respectively, to accomodate the visitors' travel schedule.
ABOUT UNLV: The Rebels return five starters in the field and two in the circle from last season's 30-34 team that finished third in the Mountain West Conference ... All-Mountain West Conference third baseman Pauline Glenn (.125/2/5) and sophomore Morgan Bostwick (.176/2/5) are tied for the team lead in home runs and RBI, and outfielder Lisa Moses (.333/0/5) is the team's top hitter for the third straight year ... In the circle, Jackie Kerrigan (6-3, 2.36) leads the squad in wins, ERA and strikeouts (64) ... The Rebels were chosen to finish fourth in a vote by the league's six head coaches ... Head coach Shan McDonald begins her 17th season at the helm of the Rebel program and carries an overall coaching mark of 496-440-2.
OPPONENTS: Syracuse (0-0) will open its 2003 campaign against the Rebels ... Tennessee (6-4) has a pair of losses to No. 3 California, but rides a five-game winning streak into Vegas ... Louisiana-Monroe (4-5) is coming off a second-place finish at its host tournament, the Mardi Gras Classic, but finished last weekend with losses to Mercer and Tulsa ... UNLV's game with all three opponents will mark the first meeting in each series.
ON DECK: Following this tournament, the Rebels take two weeks of rest before hosting their final tourney, which will feature New Mexico State, Nevada-Reno and Utah State on March 7-9.
UNLV SOFTBALL CLASSIC REVIEW: The Rebels went 1-4 in their home tournament, avenging a loss earlier in the season to Texas Tech with a 3-0 win and dropping contests to No. 20 South Carolina, Purdue, Central Michigan and Portland State. Morgan Bostwick hit two homers in the tourney, including a three-run shot to beat Texas Tech. Jackie Kerrigan pitched her second shutout of the season.
FIESTA BOWL TOURNAMENT REVIEW: The Rebels posted a 1-4 mark at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament in Phoenix, dropping decisions to No. 14 Stanford, No. 12 Texas, No. 23 Oregon State and unranked Texas Tech before shutting out Southwest Texas State. While in Phoenix, Pauline Glenn drove in three runs on two homers. Bridget Byrne stretched her hitting streak to seven games, but saw it snapped against Texas Tech, and Jackie Kerrigan tossed a two-hit shutout to blank SWT.
ON DECK: UNLV will get no rest following the UNLV Classic. The Rebels will play single games against Southern Utah and Hawaii on Monday, Feb. 17, at Eller Media Stadium. SUU and UH will also square off in a neutral-site matchup to begin the day.
