Athletic Report
March 14, 2000

GREYHOUNDS SWEEP PANHANDLE STATE
Coach Phil Clabaugh Earns 300th Career Win
GOODWELL, OK — Eastern New Mexico University’s head baseball coach, Phil Clabaugh, began his collegiate baseball career as a freshman in 1969-70 at what was then Panhandle State College. Thirty years later, in his career as a collegiate head coach, Clabaugh returned to the same field in Goodwell, Okla., Mar. 14, and won his 300th game, as ENMU defeated Oklahoma Panhandle State University, 4-3, in the first game of a double-header.

The Greyhounds swept the two-game set, routing OPSU, 18-0, in the second game. ENMU, which has won 7 of its last 8 games, moved to 11-10-1 overall and improved to 3-2-1 in Tri-State Baseball. Starting pitchers Jerry Macias (Fr., Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) and Bryan Shores (Jr., Midland, TX/Frank Phillips J.C.) recorded the victories for ENMU.

Clabaugh now in his 9th season at ENMU and 13th season overall, upped his career victory total to 301 with the double-header sweep. He has won 205 games at ENMU. In college, he played two seasons at Panhandle State, before finishing his collegiate career at the University of Oklahoma and at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

The game that brought Clabaugh his 300th victory came down to the final inning, with ENMU and Panhandle State tied, 2-2, heading into the seventh. Matt Brown (Jr., C, Napa, CA/ Diablo Valley College) walked for ENMU with one out. Jeff Zipser (Jr, 2B, Las Vegas, NV/Victor Valley College) followed with another walk, then junior shortstop David Jones drove in Brown with a double to center field. Zipser was thrown out at third on the play, but Jones was in scoring position. Andy Hostetler (So., CF, Albuquerque, NM/Valley H.S.) doubled to center, scoring Jones.

The insurance run provided the margin of victory, as OPSU scored once in the bottom of the inning. Macias (3-2) struck out 8 and allowed no walks. He gave up a one-out single in the seventh, and was replaced by Gabe DeHoyos (So., Artesia, NM/Trinidad J.C.).

The Aggies scored a run when Matt Segovia, the first batter DeHoyos faced, doubled to center. OPSU was unable to score again, as Segovia was stranded at third following a ground out and a strikeout to end the game. Hostetler led the Greyhounds with 2 hits and 2 RBIs in 4 at bats. Jones was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Junior left fielder Chris Stewart (Albuquerque, NM/Manzano H.S.) added 2 hits and a run in 3 at bats. Segovia, Scott Farminer and Ryan Vallans each had 2 hits for OPSU.

The Greyhounds used 13 hits and 10 walks to pull away in the second game. Eastern held a slim, 2-0 lead after three innings, but scored 13 runs over the next three innings for a commanding 15-0 lead. Six of the runs were scored during the sixth inning, which included a bases-clearing double by Steven Romano (Fr., 3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate H.S.).

Another offensive highlight was the first home run of the season for senior outfielder Joe Clabaugh (Mustang, OK/Western Oklahoma State). Hostetler added 3 hits in 4 at bats, and also produced 3 RBIs. Dallas McMann (Fr., C, Amarillo, TX/Randall H.S.) went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and an RBI. Shores (1-2) earned a complete game victory. He struck out 3 batters and allowed just 1 walk. He gave up only 6 hits, none for extra bases

ENMU and Wayland Baptist University were scheduled to complete a suspended double- header on Thursday (Mar. 16), but the pair of games has been postponed again. No makeup date has been determined. The Greyhounds will return to action on Sat., Mar. 18, in a double-header at Lubbock Christian University. The first game is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. (MST).