Athletic Report
April 6, 2001

ZIAS WIN ONE, LOSE ONE, AGAINST TOP 10 NAIA TEAMS AT OCU TOURNAMENT
Rachel Mohler Homers in Both Games
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Eastern New Mexico University opened the Oklahoma City University Tournament on Friday, Apr. 6, with a pair of games against Top 10 NAIA teams. The Zias, ranked #4 in the South Central Region of NCAA Division II, defeated Spring Hill (Ala.), ranked #10 in the NAIA, 7-0, but lost to tournament host and defending NAIA national champion Oklahoma City University, 3-1.

The Zias, now 21-8-1, play two more games in pool play on Saturday. If the Zias finish first or second in their pool, they will play the corresponding finisher in the other pool for either first place or third place in the tournament.

Junior third baseman Rachel Mohler (Las Vegas, NV/Green Valley H.S.) hit a solo home run in each game for ENMU. Against Spring Hill, her homer gave the Zias a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Against OCU, her homer provided Eastern’s only run against the Stars.

Suzy Seitzinger (Sr., OF/P, Bloomfield, NM/Bloomfield H.S.) also homered against Spring Hill. Her 2-run blast in the second inning was part of a 5-run outburst that increased ENMU’s lead to 6-0. Jessica Rowley (Jr., SS, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) walked and scored in the top of the seventh for Eastern’s final run.

Dawn Murray (So., P/1B, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) pitched a complete game to record the shutout. She struck out 4 batters and gave up 2 walks. Spring Hill earned just 4 hits. Murray improved to 4-0 and lowered her team-leading earned run average to 0.54.

The Zias totaled 10 hits, including 4 for extra-bases. Mohler was 2 for 4, and finished the day 3 for 7. Karena Martinez (Fr., DP/OF, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) was 2 for 4 with a double. Diana Sedgwick (Fr., OF, San Antonio, TX/Taft H.S.) was 2 for 3 with a double.

OCU scored once in the third inning and twice in the fourth inning to win the second game. Heather Blakley walked and later scored on a double by Stacey Polonich in the third inning. Stephanie Grange singled to open the fourth stanza. She advanced to second on a one-out sacrifice by Katy Letts, and reached third on a single by Kami Brokaw. Grange scored when Blakley singled to right. Letts also scored when the throw into the infield was off target.

Mohler scored ENMU’s run in the bottom of the sixth inning (Eastern was designated the home team after winning the pre-game coin toss). She powered the ball over the center field fence with two outs in the inning. It was her 6th homer of the season.

The Zias sent just three batters to the plate in the seventh inning. Lindsey Voss, who struck out 11 Zias during the game, recorded the win. Jennifer Harrer (Sr., RHP, Albuquerque, NM/ Hope Christian H.S.) struck out 4 batters in 4 innings, but took the loss and fell to 11-5 on the season.