Athletic Report
March 25, 2000

GREYHOUNDS SCORE THREE RUNS IN 7TH INNING TO TAKE 8-5 WIN, SPLIT DOUBLE-HEADER WITH TSU
STEPHENVILLE, TX — Senior designated hitter Matt Masiarek (Brisbane, Australia/ Lamar C.C.) drove in junior shortstop David Jones (Sierra Vista, AZ/Eastern Arizona College) to break a 5-5 tie in the top of the 7th inning, and Eastern New Mexico went on to an 8-5 victory over Tarleton State in the second game of a double-header, Mar. 25. The win allowed ENMU to split the double-header with TSU, which won the first game, 12-1.

ENMU concluded the four-game Lone Star Conference series with a 13-15-1 overall record and a 1-3 LSC South mark. TSU ended the series at 19-11 overall and 3-1 in the LSC South.

Jones and senior outfielder Joe Clabaugh (Mustang, OK/Western Oklahoma State) opened the seventh inning with back-to-back walks. They advanced one base when freshman right fielder Dallas McMann (Amarillo, TX/Randall H.S.) hit a sacrifice bunt. After Masiarek gave the Greyhounds the lead with his single, Jeff Thibodeaux (Sr., 1B, Apple Valley, CA/Victor Valley College) and Jeromy Neumann (Sr., C, Visalia, CA/Victor Valley College) each singled in a run. Tarleton State was unable to rally in the bottom of the inning.

Ben Sartor walked with two outs for the Texans, but ENMU reliever Cory Barker did not allow a hit during the inning. Barker entered the game with the Greyhounds in front 5-4 in the sixth. TSU tied the game with a sacrifice fly, but Barker gave up just one hit in two innings, as he improved to 2-2 on the season.

ENMU took an early 3-0 lead in the second game. The Greyhounds scored all 3 runs in the first inning, as Masiarek and third baseman Steven Romano (Fr., 3B, Las Cruces, NM/ Onate H.S.) each singled in a run, and McMann drove in the other run with a double. TSU rallied to take a 4-3 lead.

The Texans tallied single runs in the second and third, then scored twice in the fourth on a home run by Jesse Leatherwood. ENMU regained the lead, 5-4, in the sixth, when Thibodeaux scored on an error and Matt Brown (Jr., C, Napa, CA/Diablo Valley College) scored on a single by Andy Hostetler (So., CF, Albuquerque, NM/Valley H.S.). Thibodeaux led ENMU in the second game, with 3 hits in 4 at bats. Masiarek added 2 runs and 2 RBIs, while going 2 for 4 at the plate.

Brent Graham, Brent Booze and Leatherwood each recorded 2 hits for the Texans. Tarleton State broke open a close game in the opener by scoring 9 times in the sixth inning. Prior to the offensive surge, TSU held a 3-1 advantage over the Greyhounds. Leatherwood drove in 3 runs with a homer, and Booze added 3 more runs with a double. Five Texans recorded two hits during the game. Matt Cooper was 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

TSU pitcher Clay Snider limited the Greyhounds to just 3 hits, one each by Jones, Masiarek and Brown. Snider improved to 4-1 with the win.

Eastern New Mexico returns home to take on the College of the Southwest on Mon., Mar. 27 at Greyhound Field. Game time for the double-header is set for 4:00 p.m. (MST).