Athletic Report
April 22, 2000

ABILENE CHRISTIAN SWEEPS GREYHOUNDS
ENMU Left Out of LSC Tournament Picture
PORTALES, NM — Abilene Christian University, ranked #22 in NCAA Division II, defeated Eastern New Mexico University, 6-2 and 17-4, Apr. 22, to edge the Greyhounds in the race for Lone Star Conference Tournament berths from the South Division. ACU, which won 3 out of 4 games against ENMU, finished 12-8 in the LSC South, tied with Tarleton State for first place. Eastern, which fell to 10-8 in the LSC South, finished third.

Only two teams from each division qualify for the LSC Tournament. Tarleton and ACU will represent the South Division. TSU, which went 3-1 against ACU during the regular season, will host the four-team event, Apr. 27-29. North Division teams in the tournament will be Southeastern Oklahoma State and Northeastern State (Okla.).

ENMU needed one win over Abilene today (Apr. 22) to take first place in the South Division and host the LSC Tournament. By sweeping the double-header, the Wildcats (37-13-1 overall), prevented the Greyhounds from reaching the tournament. Even so, ENMU finished the year with a 25-21-1 overall record, including 21-12 over the final 33 games of the season.

In the first game, ACU scored 4 runs with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to pull away from a 2-2 tie. Matt Davidson doubled and Jeremy Smith singled to start the rally. Reggie Kennedy hit a double just inside the third base line to score both runners, then David Soto followed with a 2-run homer to left field.

The Greyhounds took a 2-0 lead by scoring one run in the first and fourth innings. Andy Hostetler (So., CF, Albuqueque, NM/Valley H.S.) singled with two outs in the first, and later scored on a single by Dallas McMann (Fr., RF, Amarillo, TX/Randall H.S.).

Second baseman Jeff Zipser (Jr., Las Vegas, NV/Victor Valley College) drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Jeff Thibodeaux (Sr., 1B, Apple Valley, CA/Victor Valley College) scored on the play. Abilene Christian tied the score in the top of the fifth inning. Brandon Stover drove in one run with a single to center field.

The other run scored on a single by Kennedy. Zac Leslie pitched all seven innings for ACU. He allowed 9 hits, but gave up just 2 runs (1 earned), while striking out 4 batters and giving up 1 walk. He improved to 4-1 on the season.

ENMU starter Chris Stewart (Jr., LHP, Albuquerque, NM/Manzano H.S.) gave up 2 runs in 5 innings. He recorded 2 strikeouts and did not allow a walk. Reliever Rich Thomas fell to 3-1 with his first loss of the season. Kennedy was 3 for 4 with a run scored and 3 RBIs in the opener. Soto finished 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs for the Wildcats.

Hostetler, McMann and Thibodeaux each recorded 2 hits for ENMU. The Greyhounds scored the first run of the second game before ACU stormed back for the win. Steven Romano (Fr., 3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate H.S.) doubled to right field, then scored when the next batter, junior catcher Matt Brown (Napa, CA/Diablo Valley College) singled to center field.

ACU tallied three runs in the third behind three singles and a sacrifice fly. The Wildcats added another run in the fourth inning for a 4-1 lead. In the fifth inning, Davidson walked and Jeremy Smith hit a 2-run homer to start the inning. ENMU starter Tim King (3-3) left the game, but ACU continued to score. The Wildcats added another home run in the fifth, as Chris Stephens belted a 2-run blast. ACU tallied 4 runs during the stanza, as the Wildcats took an 8-1 lead. Abilene Christian also scored 3 times in the sixth inning and 6 times in the seventh.

Overall, ACU collected 16 hits, including 6 home runs. Smith hit 2 four-baggers, while Stephens, Davidson, Ryan Williams and Josh Howard blasted one apiece. Smith was 4 for 4 with 4 runs and 5 RBIs. Stephens and Williams were both 2 for 3, and Kennedy went 2 for 4.

The Greyhounds added a run in the sixth on a solo homer by McMann, then completed the scoring with a 2-run double by Thibodeaux in the bottom of the seventh. McMann’s homer was his fourth of the season. Romano was 2 for 3 with a double for ENMU.

Hostetler and Thibodeaux each earned a double and a single in 4 at bats. Thibodeaux also supplied 2 RBIs. Erik Coehlo (7-2) recorded the pitching win for ACU. He gave up 10 hits, but allowed just 1 walk and struck out 4 batters.