March 26, 2003

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STORYLINE: The UNLV Softball team (14-21, 0-0) gets a chance to start anew as the Mountain West Conference portion of the schedule begins this week. The Rebels will open things by hosting league-leading Colorado State (17-6, 0-0) on Friday, March 28, and then entertain New Mexico (13-21-1, 0-0) on Sunday, March 30. Both doubleheaders will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Eller Media Stadium.

ABOUT UNLV: The Rebels are led in hitting by Lisa Moses (.290/0/11), while All-Mountain West Conference third baseman Pauline Glenn (.148/4/15) paces the team in home runs and RBI ... In the circle, Jackie Kerrigan (11-8, 1.71) leads the league in wins and strikeouts (103) ... The Rebels were chosen to finish fourth in a vote by the league's six head coaches ... Head coach Shan McDonald is in her 17th season at the helm of the Rebel program and carries an overall coaching mark of 504-451-2.

OPPONENTS: Colorado State owns the best overall record in the league at 17-6 despite finishing at the bottom of the standings last season ... The Rams have won 13 straight coming into Las Vegas ... The Rams hold a 16-14 edge in the series, but UNLV won the last three meetings, including a sweep in Las Vegas last year ... New Mexico carried an almost identical record to the Rebels ... The Lobos will play doubleheaders with both instate rival New Mexico State and conference foe San Diego State before Sunday's matchup ... UNM carries a 15-13 advantage in the series, but the Rebels swept them in Las Vegas last year.

NOTEBOOK: Six of the Rebels' last nine games have been decided by one run ... Jackie Kerrigan earned all-tournament honors at the Capital Classic for the second straight season ... UNLV has faced 10 opponents this season that have received votes in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll ... Freshman lefty Becky McDonald is averaging better than 1.1 strikeouts per inning pitched.