Athletic Report
February 27, 2000

METRO STATE RALLIES PAST ENMU FOR 5-4 WIN
PORTALES, NM — Metropolitan State College scored two runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to defeat Eastern New Mexico University, 5-4, Sun., Feb. 27 in the Southwest Shootout at ENMU. The Roadrunners rallied from a 4-0 deficit after three innings to record the win and improve their overall record to 6-3.

ENMU fell to 4-8-1, including three losses by a single run. Metro State finished the SW Shootout with a 2-2 record.

Tarleton State earned a 2-1 record during the tournament, while New Mexico Highlands and St. Mary’s joined Metro State at 2-2. Wayland Baptist was 1-1, and ENMU was 1-2.

The Roadrunners scored two runs in the fourth inning. Jack Edwards reached first base on a single to center field to open the inning. Two outs later, with Edwards still at first, Matt Oleson hit a two-run homer to left field, cutting ENMU’s lead to 4-2. Metro State added a third run in the sixth inning, as Edwards hit a leadoff triple, then scored on a passed ball.

Brian Aguiar walked for MSC, but a fielder’s choice and two strikeouts allowed ENMU to end the inning. Miika Autio opened the seventh inning with a double. Jerod Stultz followed with a bunt and Autio beat the throw to third base, putting runners at the corners. Billy Wallace walked, then Dana Reichers hit a grounder that allowed Autio to score the tying run. Wallace was put out at second on the play. Edwards then drove in Stultz with the winning run on a single to right.

ENMU built a 4-0 lead with two runs in the second inning and two more in the third inning. The key hit of the second inning was a two-run double by Jeff Zipser (Jr., 2B, Las Vegas, NV/Victor Valley College) down the first base line. Matt Brown (Jr., C, Napa, CA/Diablo Valley College) and Jeromy Neumann (Sr., C, Visalia, CA/Victor Valley) scored on the play.

In the third stanza, Jeff Thibodeaux (Sr., 1B, Apple Valley, CA/Victor Valley) was hit by a pitch, then scored on a triple by Matt Masiarek (Sr., DH, Brisbane, Australia/Lamar C.C.). Masiarek scored on the next play, a single by Brown. Zipser was 2 for 2 at the plate for Eastern. Brown went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.

Starting pitcher Gabe DeHoyos (So., Artesia, NM/Trinidad J.C.) gave up 2 runs and 4 hits in 4 1/3 innings. He had 5 strikeouts. Reliever Chris Stewart took the loss and is now 1-2 on the season.

For Metro State, Edwards had 3 hits in 4 at bats, while scoring 2 runs and driving in another. No one else had more than one hit for the Roadrunners. Dana Reichers (1-0) was the winning pitcher.

ENMU returns to action on Tues., Feb. 29 when the Greyhounds host Lubbock Christian University in a Tri-State Baseball game. The nine-inning match-up is set for 2:00 p.m.