Sports Release
April 10, 1999

ENMU DEFEATS CAMERON IN EIGHT INNINGS TO SWEEP LONE STAR CONFERENCE SERIES
PORTALES, NM — Junior second baseman Todd Carter (Chico, CA/Lassen J.C.) hit a single to left field, scoring senior shortstop Loren Wood (Everett, WA/Skajit Valley C.C.) with the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning, as Eastern New Mexico rallied from an 8-run deficit to outscore Cameron University, 19-18, in the final game of a Lone Star Conference series at Greyhound Field, Apr. 10.

ENMU came from behind in all four games to sweep the series. Eastern won Friday’s games 11-10 (10 innings) and 16-15. The Greyhounds won Saturday’s first game 10-7. ENMU is now 18-25 overall and 4-6 in the LSC South Division. Cameron fell to 10-23 overall and 1-9 in the LSC South.

Cameron led the final game 15-7 after 3 1/2 innings and 18-11 after 4 1/2 innings. ENMU cut the deficit to 18-14 with 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth and 1 run in the sixth. The Greyhounds tied the game by scoring 4 times in the seventh.

Junior right fielder Ryan Collins (Hesperia, CA/ Victor Valley College) hit a 2-RBI double and freshman first baseman Luz Leal, Jr. (Laredo, TX/ Alexander Magnet H.S.) hit a 2-RBI single during the 7th inning.

Relief pitcher Adrian Tapia, who won both games on Friday, pitched 4 1/3 innings in the final game. He held Cameron scoreless during the last three innings, and faced just 3 batters in the top of the eighth. Tapia recorded his third win of the series, and is 3-5 on the season.

Wood doubled to center to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Carter, who batted next, quickly ended the game with his single to left field. Carter was 2 for 5 and scored 3 runs. Wood finished 3 for 3 with 5 runs and 2 RBIs.

Other top hitters for ENMU were Collins, who went 4 for 5 with 6 RBIs, 2 triples and 2 runs, and Leal, who was 2 for 3 and scored 3 times. Cameron first baseman J.R. Lopez hit a grand slam in the 4th inning and finished 2 for 6 with 5 RBIs.

In the first game, ENMU starting pitcher Greg Stimack (Jr., Lakewood, CO/J.K. Mullen H.S.) improved to 7-4 with a complete-game victory. The Greyhounds led 4-0 after two innings, but Cameron came back with 4 runs in the fourth and 1 run in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead.

Collins gave ENMU the lead for good with a 3-run homer in the bottom of the fifth. It was Collins’ 7th home run of the season, and gave ENMU a 7-5 advantage.

The Aggies cut the lead to one in the 6th, but the Greyhounds countered with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning. Senior catcher Slubby Bennalley (Kirtland, NM/Coll. of Southern Idaho) was 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored for ENMU. Jeff Thibodeaux (Jr., 1B/P, Apple Valley, CA/Victor Valley Coll.) went 2 for 2 and scored 3 runs. Leal and Carter were both 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored.

Cameron was led by Cody Hooten, who recorded 2 hits in 4 at bats. He scored 2 runs and produced 2 RBIs.

ENMU hosts Wayland Baptist University on Tues., Apr. 13, at 6:00 p.m. (MST).