Sports Release
March 20, 1999

LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN SWEEPS ENMU
Chaparrals Win Pitching Duel in Opener, 2-0
LUBBOCK, TX — Eastern New Mexico junior pitcher Greg Stimack (Lakewood, CO/ J.K. Mullen H.S.) struck out 7 batters and allowed just 5 hits in 5 innings on the mound, but it wasn’t enough to offset a strong effort from Lubbock Christian junior pitcher Paco Escamilla, as LCU defeated the Greyhounds, 3-0, in the first game of a double-header on Sat., Mar. 20. Lubbock Christian completed the sweep by rallying past ENMU, 10-7, in the second game.

Escamilla, who improved to 6-1, recorded 13 strikeouts and gave up just 4 hits. Three of Eastern’s hits were doubles, but the Greyhounds were unable to score. Stimack gave up both runs in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Britt Harper and an RBI-single by Jake Willis. Despite throwing a quality game overall, Stimack took the loss and dropped to 6-2 on the season.

Kevin Mellinger led the Chaparrals in the first game. He was 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles. He also scored LCU’s second run. Four other LCU players had one hit apiece.

ENMU second baseman Corey Heredia (Jr., Las Cruces, NM/Lamar C.C.) hit two doubles for the Greyhounds. He was 2 for 3 overall. Senior catcher Slubby Bennalley (Kirtland, NM/College of Southern Idaho) also hit a doubled for ENMU. In the second game, Eastern New Mexico led 6-2 after 3 1/2 innings, but LCU scored 8 unanswered runs on its way to a 10-7 triumph.

Willis paced the Chaparrals with 3 hits in 3 at bats. He scored twice and drove in one run. Jason Dean went 2 for 2 and Steven Leist concluded the game with 2 hits in 3 at bats. LCU scored 3 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, then added 3 runs in the fifth inning and 2 runs in the sixth inning to pull off the comeback. Only 5 of LCU’s 10 runs were earned, as ENMU committed 8 errors in the game.

For ENMU in the second game, center fielder Sam George (Sr., Eau Claire, WI/N.M. Military Institute) went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Senior shortstop Loren Wood (Everett, WA/ Skajit Valley C.C.) and junior first baseman Jeff Thibodeaux (Apple Valley, CA/Victor Valley College) each recorded 2 hits in 2 at bats. Heredia pounded out another double, went 1 for 2 in the game, and finished the day 3 for 5 overall.

The teams are scheduled to play another double-header on Sunday (March 21). Game time for the first contest is set for 11:30 a.m. (MST).