May 23, 2005

LAS VEGAS - After a stellar 44-19 season and an at-large selection into the 2005 NCAA Tournament, four UNLV softball players collected more recognition for the program, due to their play on the field this season.

The 2005 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-West Region First and Second teams were announced to which Marissa Nichols (outfield) and Caitlyn Paus (second base) were selected to the first team, while Jacque Kerrigan (pitcher) and Brittany Meade (third base) were named to the second team.

Nichols and Paus are now candidates for All-America honorees, since they have been selected to the first team.

Nichols, the Mountain West Conference's 2005 Freshman of the Year (Diamond Bar, Calif.), All-Conference and All-Tournament selections, led the Rebels in nearly every major offensive category this season. On top of leading the Rebels, she was tops in the MWC in offense, as well as registering in the NCAA's national statistics. She closed out 2005 with a .426 batting average on 89 hits. Of those 89 hits, 18 were home runs, eight were triples and 17 were doubles. She even re-wrote the UNLV all-time offensive single-season record book in five of the 13 categories. She is listed in all 13, but is tops in home runs (18), hits (89), runs (66), stolen bases (34) and total bases (176). Through just one season of play, she already ranks in the career offensive categories, such as, home runs (7th, 18) and stolen bases (5th, 35). Defensively, she had a .990 fielding percentage.

Paus, a freshman from New Lenox, Ill., was selected to the MWC's All-Conference Team, as well. She was second in nearly every major offensive category this season. Paus hit .327 on the year with 68 hits. She placed in six all-time single-season categories, as well. Paus' numbers for games (T-10th, 63), at-bats (208, 7th), runs (39, T-9th), home runs (T-9th, nine), RBI (T-3, 44), and total bases (9th, 110). In conference statistics only, she led the MWC in RBI with 22 and tied for the lead in hits (26) and triples (2). In the field, she had a fielding percentage of .956 in 250 chances.

Jacque Kerrigan (Eugene, Ore.) completes her career at UNLV with a second team selection and the distinction of being the 2005 MWC Pitcher of the Year and a member of the All-Conference Team. Kerrigan was selected as the MWC Pitcher of the Week on five occasions this season. She entered the season, listed in most career and single-season pitching categories and made sure to leave her name atop most of them. This season, she held a record of 29-14 and an ERA of 1.65. The 29 wins are the second-most in a single-season. She closed out the season with 52 appearances and five saves, both of which are good enough for first-place in the all-time single-season charts. Her 201 strikeouts are fourth-most in a season. In NCAA statistics she has been in the top-10 in victories and saves throughout the season. In the circle, she had a .963 fielding percentage.

Brittany Meade (Tucson, Ariz.) rounds out UNLV's four selections and third freshman to be named to the All-West Region teams. Meade hit for a .293 average with 49 hits. She hit two home runs and eight doubles in 62 games played. She knocked in 24 RBI and scored 32 times herself. At the hot corner, she held a .912 fielding percentage.

UNLV's four All-West selections are the most in an individual year since, coincidentally the Rebels' last run to the NCAA Tournament in 1996. This is the sixth occurrence since 1987 that UNLV has had four or more players selected to the All-West squad.

Louisville Slugger/NFCA West Region TeamsFirst TeamJamie Southern          Pitcher          Fresno StateMeredith Cervenka       Pitcher          Long Beach StateLauren Watson-Perry     Catcher          BYUJennifer Curtier        First Base       PacificCaitlyn Paus            Second Base      UNLVAshlyn Russell          Third Base       BYUChristina Clark         Short Stop       Fresno StateJessica Strickland      DP               Colorado StateCandice Baker           Utility          Cal State FullertonMarissa Nichols         Outfield         UNLVTara Harbert            Outfield         HawaiiPaige Paramore          Outfield         BYUElisa Barrios           Outfield         San Jose State

Second TeamJacque Kerrigan         Pitcher          UNLVSummer Tobias           Pitcher          BYUMarcel Torres           Pitcher          Long Beach StateNicole Willis           Catcher          Fresno StateIanta Le'i              First Base       BYUStephanie Roberts       Second Base      Colorado StateBrittany Meade          Third Base       UNLVMichelle Anunciation    Short Stop       PacificTiffany Burt            Short Stop       Southern UtahLindsey Elcess          DP               UtahJan Moshier             Utility          Cal State NorthridgeGina Carbonatto         Outfield         PacificKristen Carmichael      Outfield         Southern UtahLindsey Bashor          Outfield         Cal State Fullerton