Athletic Report
April 13, 2001

WEST TEXAS RALLIES FROM 4-1 DEFICIT
FOR 8-5 WIN OVER GREYHOUNDS
PORTALES, NM — West Texas A&M University scored 5 runs in the 8th inning and added 2 runs in the 9th inning, as the Buffaloes rallied from a 4-1 deficit for an 8-5 Lone Star Conference win over Eastern New Mexico University, Apr. 13 at Greyhound Field. WTAMU improved to 22-21 overall, including 8-13 in the LSC South. ENMU dropped to 22-24 on the season and to 7-12 in the LSC South.

Richard Cruce hit a leadoff double and later scored for WTAMU in the first inning, but the Greyhounds scored the next four runs. Andy Hostetler (Jr., OF, Albuquerque, NM/Valley H.S.) hit a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the first to tie the game. ENMU moved in front in the third inning, when Ryan Dickson (Jr., DH/1B, Trail, BC/Big Bend C.C.) singled through the left side with two outs, scoring Hostetler and center fielder David Jones (Sr., OF/SS, Sierra Vista, CA/Eastern Arizona College).

The Greyhounds’ fourth run came in the fifth inning. Jones, who opened the stanza for ENMU, sent the second pitch he faced over the left field fence. It was his 6th home run of the season and his 11th home run in the last two seasons.

ENMU starting pitcher Chris Stewart (Sr., LHP, Albuquerque, NM/Manzano H.S.) limited WTAMU to just 6 hits through the first seven innings. In the eighth, he caused Bill Potts to fly out to right field to start the inning. Ben Hangartner followed with a single to center field, and Travis Denson hit a potential double-play ball to second. The ball was misplayed, however, leaving Hangartner at second and Denson at first.

Marcus Glass then hit a fly ball to center field that Jones was unable to see. The ball fell untouched for a double, scoring Hangartner. Chris Hladky doubled to left center, driving in Denson and Glass. Brian Evans hit a double just off the end of Jones’s glove for the Buffs’ third consecutive double, allowing Hladky to cross the plate. Evans advanced to second on an error as the ball returned to the infield, and later scored on an error by Steven Romano (So., 3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate H.S.), as the Hounds were attempting a pickoff at third.

ENMU, which entered the game with an excellent .961 team fielding percentage, committed 4 errors during the game, including 3 in the eighth inning. Hostetler singled to start the bottom of the eighth. He advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored with two outs on a single by Dallas McMann (So., C, Amarillo, TX/Randall H.S.). Kyle Wagner (Fr., OF, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.), who ran for McMann, stole second. Wagner was left at second when WTAMU pitcher Kevin Seibert recorded one of his 8 strikeouts to end the inning.

WTAMU added two runs in the ninth. The first run scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Denson. The second run crossed home plate on an infield hit by Hladky. Seibert earned another strikeout to start the bottom of the ninth, then gave up a pinch-hit single to Luz Leal, Jr. (So., OF/P, Laredo, TX/Alexander Magnet H.S.). A fly out and a ground out followed, as the Buffaloes preserved the win. Seibert improved to 5-5 on the season, while Stewart fell to 2-4 for ENMU.

Glass led West Texas with 4 hits in 5 at bats. Hangartner was 3 for 5 with a run and an RBI, while Hladkey was 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs. Cruce went 2 for 5.

Eight different runners scored once for the Buffaloes. Jones finished the game 3 for 5 with 2 runs and an RBI for ENMU. Hostetler was 2 for 3 with 3 runs, a walk and an RBI. Dickson produced 2 hits in 2 at bats, and drove in 2 runs.

ENMU and WTAMU will complete their LSC series with a double-header on Saturday, Apr. 14. The first game is set to get underway at 12:00 noon (MDT).