ZIA BASKETBALL
(13-10, 6-7 LSC South)
ENMU dropped a pair of LSC South road games during the week, falling at Angelo State, 77-62, on Feb. 11 and dropping a 75-65 decision at Abilene Christian on Feb. 13. Despite losing 7 consecutive LSC games, the Zias still control their own destiny in efforts to qualify for the LSC Tournament.

Junior post Amanda Mendez (San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) and sophomore post/forward Katheryne Hickman (San Antonio, TX/Castle Hills 1st Baptist H.S.) remain ENMU’s top scorers this season. Mendez has averaged 12.3 points per game. Hickman has provided 11.0 points per game, while connecting on 53.0% of her shots (97 of 183).

ANGELO STATE HITS 30 OF 33 FT’S IN WIN OVER ZIAS
Angelo State converted 30 of 33 free throws and sank 5 of 9 three-pointers to defeat visiting Eastern New Mexico in a Lone Star Conference South Division game, Feb. 11 at ASU. Angelo State, which rallied from a 34-31 halftime deficit, improved to 8-15 on the season, 4-9 in the LSC South.

ENMU dropped to 13-9 overall and 6-6 in the LSC South. The Rambelles, who converted only 8 of 22 field goal attempts (36.4%) in the first half, made 13 of 22 field goals (59.1%) over the final 20 minutes. ASU opened the second half with an 18-6 run for a 49-40 lead.

Eastern cut the deficit to four points, 53-49, on a turnaround jumper by junior post Amanda Mendez with 8:53 remaining. Angelo State regained control with an 11-3 run that increased the lead to 64-52 with 4:14 left. Brooke Bowman scored the first six points of the offensive surge, providing a two-point basket and a foul shot, then sinking a 3-pointer.

ASU was 4 of 4 on three-pointers in the second half. Katrina Polnick of Angelo State led all players with 20 points. She also hauled down 7 rebounds for the Rambelles. Bowman added 16 points, 4 boards and 3 assists. Eastern was led by Mendez, who scored 19 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Sophomore post/forward Katheryne Hickman scored 13 points for the Zias, before fouling out with about a minute remaining.

ACU RETAINS HOLD OF LSC SOUTH LEAD
Abilene Christian built a 30-21 halftime lead over the ENMU Zias on its way to a 75-65 Lone Star Conference South Division triumph, Feb. 13 in Abilene, Texas. ACU remained in first place in the LSC South at 11-3, one-half game in front of West Texas A&M. The Wildcats improved to 19-6 overall. Eastern fell to 13-10 overall, 6-7 in the LSC South. It was ENMU’s 7th straight Conference loss.

ACU limited Eastern to just 25.0% shooting in the first half (7 of 28). Meanwhile, the Wildcats shot 50.0% (12 of 24) over the first 20 minutes. ENMU (43.8%) and Abilene Christian (44.4%) where nearly even from the field in the second half, but the Zias could not overcome their first half deficit. Jackie Bucher led the Wildcats with 17 points and 7 rebounds.

She made 7 of 8 field goals and went 3 for 3 at the line. Emily Berry added 13 points and 9 rebounds, while Ashley Gray contributed 12 pints. ACU was 21 of 29 at the free throw line (72.4%). ENMU’s top performer was junior guard/forward Sharon Max (Kirtland, NM/Central H.S.), who scored 17 points, while hitting 5 of 11 three- point shots. She also grabbed 4 boards and had 2 assists.

Senior guard Bria Norris (Amarillo, TX/Amarillo H.S.) provided 11 points (3 of 4 on 3-point shots), and sophomore post Bobbie Wallin (Moriarty, NM/Moriarty H.S.) supplied 10 points and 8 rebounds. Julie Smith (Sr., G, Albuquerque, NM/Eldorado H.S.) earned 7 assists.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIAS
The Zias conclude the regular season with three LSC home games this week. ENMU takes on the Midwestern State Lady Indians on Thur., Feb. 18 at 5:30 p.m. (MST), then hosts Texas Woman’s University on Fri., Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m. The Zias end the regular season on Sat., Feb. 20 against Tarleton State. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. at Greyhound Arena.

ENMU controls is own destiny in its search for an LSC Tournament berth. The Zias, 6-7 in the LSC South, are one-half game behind MSU, 7-7, in the race for the fourth and final tournament berth from the South Division. Texas A&M-Commerce trails ENMU by one-half game at 6-8.

If the Zias win all three games, they will earn a tournament berth. It is also possible for ENMU to qualify with one or two losses this week, but that would depend on results for other teams in the playoff race.

ZIA TENNIS
(6-1 Overall, Ranked #21)
The ENMU women’s tennis squad won two matches last week, sweeping West Texas A&M, 9-0, on Fri., Feb. 12, then edging Midwestern State, 5-4, on Sat., Feb. 13. Both matches were played at the Zia Tennis Complex, as ENMU improved to 6-1 overall and 4-1 during the spring season. ENMU was especially strong in doubles, winning all three flights in both matches. The wins against MSU helped lead to the 5-4 victory.

ZIAS SHUT OUT WEST TEXAS A&M
The Eastern New Mexico Zias, ranked #21 in NCAA Division II, did not lose a set in shutting out Lone Star Conference rival West Texas A&M, 9-0, at the Zias Tennis Center, Feb. 12. The win improved the Zias to 5-1 overall, while WTAMU dropped to 0-4. Freshman Layla Turner (Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande Union H.S.), the Zias’ #1 singles player led the way with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Kori Pagel.

Turner and Julie Stiles (Jr., Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) teamed up to win #1 doubles over Rachel Pendergrass and Jennifer Raines, 8-2. Eastern built an early 3-0 lead by sweeping the doubles matches.

In addition to Turner and Stiles winning at #1 doubles, the Zias also received victories from senior Rozlyn Gorski (El Paso, TX/Coronado H.S.) and freshman Makenzie McCravey (Eldorado, TX/Eldorado H.S.) at #2 doubles, 8-2, and from freshman Sarah Pennington (Sweetwater, TX/Sweetwater H.S.) and senior Dena Boans (Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) at #3 doubles, 8-3.

ENMU EDGES LSC RIVAL MIDWESTERN STATE
The Eastern New Mexico Zias, ranked #21 in NCAA Division II, swept the three doubles matches and went on to slip past Midwestern State, 5-4, at the Zia Tennis Center, Feb. 13. ENMU improved to 6-1 with the win. The match was MSU’s first competition of the spring season.

Eastern freshman Layla Turner (Casa Grande, AZ/Casa Grande Union H.S.), won both #1 singles and #1 doubles for the Zias. She defeated Marci Matthews, 6-2, 6-0 at #1 singles. Turner was paired with junior Julie Stiles (Roswell, NM/ Goddard H.S.) at #1 doubles.

Turner and Stiles defeated Nadine Plattek and Kristen Bixby, 8-2. Although ENMU led 3-0 after the doubles matches, the Zias won by a narrow margin, winning just two of six singles matches. In addition to Turner’s victory, the Zias received a win from Stiles at #2 singles. She defeated Plattek, 6-3, 6-4. MSU’s Marsha Meyer won the only three-set match of the day, as she defeated Makenzie McCravey (Fr., Eldorado, TX/Eldorado H.S.), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, at #4 singles.

Kristen Bixby won #6 singles for the Indians by taking the first set 6-3, then out- lasting ENMU’s Dena Boans (Sr., Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.), 7-6 (7-5) in a second set tie-breaker. With ENMU ultimately winning by a single point, the key match may have been at #3 doubles.

Boans and #3 doubles partner Sarah Pennington (Fr., Sweetwater, TX/Sweetwater H.S.) won the 16th game of their pro set to claim a 9-7 victory and avoid a tie-breaker that might have led to an MSU victory.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIAS
Eastern’s next matches are on Fri., Feb. 19 in Lawton, Okla., where the Zias will take on Cameron University at 9:00 a.m. (MST) and will play Southern Nazarene at 1:00 p.m. (MST). ENMU defeated Cameron, 5-4, on the campus of West Texas A&M during the fall. The rematch with Cameron should provide high quality tennis.

The Zias are ranked #21 in NCAA Division II. Cameron is ranked #27. ENMU concludes the week on Sat., Feb. 20 in Lawton. The Zias will play Science and Arts of Oklahoma. at 8:00 a.m. (MST).

GREYHOUND BASEBALL
(3-4 Overall)
Eastern New Mexico participated in the Broken Bat Tournament at Wayland Baptist University, Feb. 12-14. The tournament schedule was altered after games scheduled for Feb. 11 were cancelled due to the weather. ENMU went 1-2 in the tournament, playing a single game each day. Eastern opened the event with a 4-3 win over host Wayland Baptist. ENMU lost to Lubbock Christian, 8-3, and fell to WBU, 4-2, to round out the tournament. Teams participating in the Broken Bat Tournament used only wooden bats during the event.

GREYHOUNDS EDGE WAYLAND BAPTIST
ON HEREDIA HOMER
Junior second baseman Corey Heredia (Las Cruces, NM/Lamar C.C.) led off the top of the seventh inning with Eastern New Mexico’s third home run of the day, as the visiting Greyhounds defeated Wayland Baptist, 4-3, in the Broken Bat Tournament, Feb. 12.

Senior shortstop Loren Wood (Everett, WA/Skajit Valley C.C.) and junior designated hitter Matt Masiarek (Australia/Lamar C.C.) also homered for Eastern, which improved to 3-2 on the season.

Junior first baseman Marco Palacios homered for Wayland Baptist.

The game was the inaugural contest at David and Myrt Wilder Field as well as the season opener for WBU.

Wood, who doubled and scored in the second inning for an early 1-0 ENMU lead, homered in the fourth to break a 1-1 tie. Masiarek made it 3-1 with a solo homer in the sixth inning. Palacios hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score, 3-3. Palacios also drove in WBU’s other run on a two-out single in the fourth inning.

Heredia, down 0-2 to start the top of the seventh, hit his first home run of the season. Heredia and Wood both finished the day 2 for 3 at the plate.

Junior Greg Stimack (Lakewood, CO/J.K. Mullen H.S.), who gave up just five hits — four were singles — and recorded five strikeouts in six innings, picked up the win for Eastern. He upped his record to 2-0 on the season. Junior closer Brandon Bosher (Fall Creek, WI/ Des Moines Area C.C.) earned his second save of the season by facing just four batters in the bottom of the seventh.

LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN DOWNS ENMU, 8-3
Sophomore pitcher Shane Riddle limited ENMU to 3 runs on 7 hits during five innings of duty, as Lubbock Christian defeated ENMU, 8-3, in the Broken Bat Tournament, Feb. 13. The win upped LCU’s record to 2-1 in the tournament (5-4 overall). ENMU fell to 1-1 in the tournament (3-3 overall). LCU scored three times in the bottom of the first inning. Junior right fielder Jake Willis drove in the first two runs with a single.

He later scored on a 2-out single by Ryan Miller. Miller was thrown out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double. ENMU tied the score with three runs in the second inning. Designated hitter Matt Masiarek opened the inning with a single to right field. Masiarek eventually scored on a single by junior second baseman Corey Heredia.

Senior center fielder Sam George (Eau Claire, WI/N.M. Military Institute) drove in junior catcher Jeromy Neumann (Vixalia, CA/Victor Valley College) with the second run. Heredia scored on a wild pitch to complete the 3-run rally. The Chaparrals scored twice in the bottom of the second inning, and added single runs in the third, fourth and sixth stanzas to break the tie and achieve the win.

Senior catcher Jimmy Campbell drove in the go-ahead runs with a 2-run homer in the second. It was his first homer of the season. For ENMU, George finished the game 4 for 4, with three singles and a double. Neumann was 2 for 2 and walked once.

LCU produced 12 hits during the game. Miller and senior shortstop Tod Sundlie led the way, as each player recorded 3 hits in 3 at bats. Riddle earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the season. Tim King (So., RHP, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.), now 0-2, took the loss for Eastern.

WAYLAND BAPTIST SLIPS PAST ENMU, 4-2
Sophomore catcher Nathan Culwell of Wayland Baptist hit a solo homer to lead off the 8th inning, and junior relief pitcher Clyde Tedrick ended an Eastern New Mexico threat in the top of the 9th, as the Pioneers defeated the Greyhounds, 4-2, in the Broken Bat Tournament at WBU.

Both teams ended the tournament with 1-2 records. WBU is 1-2 overall and ENMU is 3-4 on the season. Culwell hit a 2-2 pitch into the visiting bullpen to open the bottom of the eighth inning. It was his first homer of the season.

Ironically, a solo homer by Eastern’s Matt Masiarek in the last inning of a seven-inning game on Fri., Feb. 12 sent ENMU to a 4-3 win in the teams’ previous meeting.

The Pioneers added an insurance run when junior first baseman Marco Palacios doubled to left field, and pinch runner Garrett Heard scored later in the inning. ENMU got runners to second and third with one out in the ninth inning, but could not bring home the tying runs.

Junior second baseman David Jones (Sierra Vista, AZ/Eastern Arizona College) started the inning with a single to center field, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. After pinch hitter Corey Heredia walked, center fielder Sam George bunted with two strikes. His sacrifice advanced Heredia and Jones to second and third, respectively.

With ENMU’s two runners in scoring position, Tedrick went to the mound. He forced Loren Wood (Sr., SS, Everett, WA/Skajit Valley C.C.) to pop out to first base, then struck out Masiarek to end the game. WBU managed 7 hits and ENMU connected for 6 hits. Neither starter earned a decision, as ENMU reliever Nate Calloway (Jr., RHP, Albuquerque, NM/Lamar C.C.) fell to 1-1 with the loss. WBU reliever Jacob Henley was credited with the win.

UP NEXT FOR THE GREYHOUNDS
Eastern’s next three games are in Albuquerque, N.M. against the University of New Mexico, Feb. 19-21. The teams will play one 9-inning game each day. The game on Fri., Feb. 19 is set for 2:00 p.m. (MST). The games on Sat., Feb. 20 and Sun., Feb. 21 will start at 1:00 p.m. (MST).

ZIA SOFTBALL
(4-7 Overall)
The Zias reached the semifinals of the Southern Colorado Tournament, Feb. 12-13. ENMU went 2-2 in pool play, then defeated Adams State in the first round of bracket play. The Zias downed Colo.-Colorado Springs in the quarterfinals, before losing to eventual champion Tarleton State in the semifinals. ENMU is 4-7 overall.

ENMU REACHES SEMIS OF TOURNAMENT
Eastern New Mexico won its last two games in pool play, then gained victories in the first two rounds of the single elimination bracket, to reach the semifinals of the Southern Colorado Tournament, Feb. 12-13. Tarleton State, which won the event, edged the Zias in the semifinals, 4-2.

ENMU began pool play with losses to Mesa State, 6-0, and Oklahoma Panhandle State, 8-6. Mesa broke open a 2-0 game with 4 runs in the fourth inning. OPSU rallied from a 5-1 deficit to slip past the Zias, 8-6. Both games lasted just 5 innings due to a time limit.

The Zias rebounded to take second place in their pool. ENMU scored a season-high 12 runs and pounded out 13 hits in a 12-9 victory over Fort Hays State. The Zias concluded pool play with a 9-6 triumph over Doane College.

In Eastern’s first game of bracket play, the Zias rallied from a 2-0 deficit to edge Adams State College, 4-2. After tying the score with two runs in the fourth, ENMU moved in front when junior second baseman Enida Rosales (Glendale, AZ/South Mountain College) stole home with two outs in the fifth. ENMU scored three runs in the second inning of its quarterfinal game against UC-Colorado Springs to break a 2-2 tie on its way to a 5-4 win.

In the semifinals, Tarleton State took a 2-0 lead before Eastern evened the score with two runs in the fourth. TSU moved ahead with two runs in the fifth. The TexAnns defeated Western New Mexico, 4-2, in the title game.

Sophomore outfielder Kim Paschall (Midland, TX/Midland H.S.) hit .609 during the tournament for ENMU. She was named to the All-Tournament Team. Freshman first baseman Rachel Mohler (Las Vegas, NV/Green Valley H.S.) hit .571, helping the Zias achieve a .385 team batting average.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIAS
The Zias return to action on Sat., Feb. 20 in the first ever home games at Zia Softball Field on the ENMU campus. A pre-game tailgate party sponsored by the Bench Club will be held in the Greyhound Arena parking lot at 11:00 a.m. (MST). The double-header between the Zias and Oklahoma Panhandle State starts at 12:00 noon.