Athletic Report
February 17, 2001

EASTERN NEW MEXICO DEFEATS TSU, 5-4
Greyhounds Win 2 of 3 Games in LSC Series
PORTALES, NM — Eastern New Mexico University relief pitcher Rich Thomas (Jr., Albuquerque, NM/Trinidad J.C.) pitched four scoreless inning, as the Greyhounds defeated Tarleton State University, 5-4, Saturday, Feb. 17, at Greyhound Field.

With the victory, ENMU won the weekend series, two games to one. The Greyhounds also improved to 5-6 overall and to 2-1 in the LSC South. Tarleton State dropped to 1-7, 1-2 in the LSC South.

Thomas (1-0) entered the game at the start of the 6th inning, with the teams tied, 4-4. He faced 13 batters, and allowed only 2 hits to record the win. ENMU, which led 3-0 after the first inning, had to rally for the win after TSU scored twice in the fourth inning and two more times in the fifth inning.

The Greyhounds tied the score in the bottom of the fifth, when Jeff Zipser (Sr., 2B, Las Vegas, NV/Victor Valley College) singled and later scored on a base hit by Franco Barrero (Jr., 1B, Laredo, TX/Laredo J.C.)

In the sixth inning, ENMU took the lead for good. With one out, Eddie Jimenez (Sr., 3B/2B, Tucumcari, NM/N.M. Military Institute) singled to left field. Xarin Escobedo (Jr., SS/2B, Mexico City, Mexico/El Paso C.C.) followed with another single, then both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch. Jimenez scored the game-winning run when Zipser reached on an error by shortstop Noel Sauceda.

The one-run lead was all Thomas needed to close out the win. Matt Moseley placed a bunt single down the third base line to start the 7th inning for the Texans, but he was doubled off first base when Sauceda lined out to Jimenez at third. Elton Emiliano, the next batter, was hit by a pitch, but was left on base when Scott Harrington flied out to left field. Thomas faced just three batters each in the eighth and ninth innings.

ENMU opened the scoring with 3 runs on 4 hits in the first inning. Designated hitter Ryan Dickson (Jr., Trail, BC/Big Bend C.C.), who finished with 2 hits in 4 at bats, drove in two of the first-inning runs on a single to right center. Matt Brown (Sr., 1B, Napa, CA/Diablo Valley C.C.) drove in the other run with a single to right field. Joining Dickson with two hits each were Escobedo, who went 2 for 3, and Barrero, who went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.

Eight different Greyhounds recorded at least one hit, as Eastern finished with 11 hits — all singles. Harrington topped Tarleton State’s offense with 2 hits in 4 at bats to go with a run scored and 2 RBIs. Craig Darder added 2 hits and an RBI in 4 at bats, while Jason Moore and Moseley each went 2 for 4. The Texans totaled 9 hits during the game.

ENMU starting pitcher Jerry Macias (So., Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) struck out 4 batters and allowed 7 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings. Thomas earned 1 strikeout and did not allow a walk. Shaun Shiery, the starting pitcher for TSU, struck out 7 and walked 1, but allowed 9 hits and threw 2 wild pitches in 6 innings on the mound.