Athletic Report
March 27, 2000

GREYHOUNDS RALLY FROM 6-0 DEFICIT
TO DEFEAT COLLEGE OF THE SOUTHWEST, 7-6
PORTALES, NM — Eastern New Mexico University trailed 6-0 after 6 1/2 innings, but scored 5 times in the seventh and twice in the ninth to defeat visiting College of the Southwest, 7-6, Mar. 27 at Greyhound Field. Sophomore center fielder Andy Hostetler (Albuquerque, NM/ Valley H.S.) scored the winning run on a wild pitch with no outs in the ninth.

ENMU improved to 14-15-1 with the win, while CSW dropped to 16-19-1 on the season. The victory also upped Eastern’s record in Tri-State Baseball to 5-4-1. For the first six innings, College of the Southwest controlled the action.

The Mustangs went up 2-0 in the first inning, when Robert Graham doubled in David Williams and Patrick Coats. The lead increased to 3-0 in the second inning, as Ash Roan blasted the ball over the left field fence for his fifth home run of the season. Barry Young drove in two more CSW runs with a double to left field in the fifth inning. The Mustangs’ lead reached 6-0 in the sixth, when Coats scored on a single by Micah Pennies.

The ENMU offense finally produced runs in the seventh inning. Senior designated hitter Matt Masiarek (Brisbane, Australia/Lamar C.C.) opened the stanza with a single to left field. Right fielder Dallas McMann (Fr., Amarillo, TX/Randall H.S.) followed with a double to left center, driving in Masiarek with the Hounds’ first run.

Eastern’s next batter, Jeff Thibodeaux (Sr., 1B, Apple Valley, CA/Victor Valley College), was hit by a pitch. Following an error on a pick-off play at second, Steven Romano (Fr., 3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate H.S.) drove in Thibodeaux with a single to right field. Romano scored three batters later on an error by the shortstop. Junior left fielder Chris Stewart (Albuquerque, NM/ Manzano H.S.) drove in Jeromy Neumann (Sr., C, Visalia, CA/Victor Valley College) with the final run of the inning on a single to right field.

Sophomore pitcher Gabe DeHoyos (Artesia, NM/Trinidad J.C.) went to the mound for Eastern with two outs and two runners in the top of the eighth inning. He quickly ended the inning on a fly out to center field. DeHoyos faced just three batters in the ninth, earning two strikeouts and a ground out, as he improved his record to 3-1 on the season.

David Jones (Jr., SS, Sierra Vista, AZ/Eastern Arizona College) doubled for Eastern to lead off the ninth inning. Hostetler hit a bunt single down the third base line, placing runners at first and third. Stewart doubled to center field, scoring Jones and sending Hostetler to third.

Masiarek was batting when a pitch from reliever Wesley Wilson hit the dirt near home plate, bounced off the catcher and headed back toward the mound. Wilson grabbed the ball about 10 feet in front of the plate, and tossed it to catcher Nestor Gonzales. Hostetler scored just before the ball was caught, giving Gonzales no chance for a tag.

McMann led Eastern’s offense with 3 hits in 4 at bats, including a double and a triple. Hostetler was 3 for 5 and Stewart was 2 for 5. Coats earned 3 hits in 5 at bats for College of the Southwest. Pennies, Gonzales and David Williams each added 2 hits for the Mustangs.

CSW’s starting pitcher Robert Graham threw the first eight innings. After holding ENMU scoreless for six innings, he gave up all 5 runs in the seventh, but only 3 runs were earned. Graham struck out six Greyhounds, and allowed just one walk.

Three ENMU pitchers combined to strike out nine CSW batters. The Hounds gave up 5 walks.

Eastern New Mexico returns to action this weekend with a pair of Lone Star Conference double-headers at Cameron University in Lawton, Okla. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. (MST) on Fri., Mar. 31 and for 11:00 a.m. (MST) on Sat., Apr. 1.