Athletic Report
March 24, 2001

ABILENE CHRISTIAN SWEEPS DOUBLE-HEADER WITH GREYHOUNDS, 9-5 AND 6-3
PORTALES, NM — Abilene Christian University, tied for #11 in the NCAA Division II Poll, swept a Lone Star Conference double-header at Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday, Mar. 24, winning the first game 9-5 and claiming the second game 6-3. ACU won all three games in the weekend series, which began with a 4-2, 13-inning victory for the Wildcats on Friday, Mar. 23. With the wins, Abilene Christian improved to 26-0 overall and 11-4 in the LSC South. ENMU fell to 13-20, 6-9 in the LSC South.

In the opening game of the double-header, ACU scored one run in each of the first two innings, then plated 3 runs in the third stanza, to take a 5-0 lead. Adam Thomas, ACU’s leadoff batter, tripled to right center to start the game. He later scored on Chris Stephens’ sacrifice fly to right field. Jeremy Smith, who began the second inning with an infield single to shortstop, scored the Wildcats’ second run on a sacrifice fly by Dion Valdivia.

The third inning brought the Wildcats 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 errors. Jeremy Smith drove in one of the runs with a single to center field. Matt Davidson also recorded an RBI during the inning, as his ground out to third base allowed Brandon Stover to score. The other run was scored by Thomas, who opened the inning with a walked and eventually scored on an error. ACU added 2 runs in the fifth inning and 2 more in the sixth for a 9-1 lead.

ENMU scored 4 times in the sixth, with Dallas McMann (So., C/DH) driving in two of the runs on a double to center field. Jeff Zipser (Sr., 2B/SS, Las Vegas, NV/Victor Valley College), Matt Brown (Sr., C/1B, Napa, CA/Diablo Valley College) and David Jones (Sr., CF/SS, Sierra Vista, AZ/Eastern Arizona College) each hit singles during the inning. Jones drove in Zipser, and Brown scored on ACU’s error.

Starting pitcher Frankie Keller went 5 2/3 innings for ACU, and improved to 1-2 on the season. He gave up 7 hits, struck out 4 batters and allowed 2 walks. Chris Stewart (Sr., P/OF, Albuquerque, NM/Manzano H.S.) of ENMU fell to 1-2 in only his second appearance since suffering a shoulder injury in the season opener.

Jeremy Smith of ACU led all players in the first game, recording 4 hits in 4 at bats. He scored twice and was credited with 2 RBIs. Brad Massey was 3 for 4 for the Wildcats, and Thomas was 2 for 3 with 3 runs scored. McMann, Zipser and Brown each earned 2 hits for the Greyhounds.

Abilene Christian took a quick lead in the second game by scoring a trio of runs in the opening stanza. Thomas singled to start the rally, then scored later in the inning on a wild pitch. The other runs were provided by Brandon Stover, who scored on a single by Matt Davidson, and by Jeremy Smith, who scored on a double steal.

ENMU tallied one run in the bottom of the inning. Zipser hit a leadoff single to left field, but was thrown out at second when Kyle Wagner (Fr., OF, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) bunted into a fielder’s choice. McMann followed with his third double of the day, allowing Wagner to score from first. Massey scored on a single by Chris Stephens in the fourth inning to increase ACU’s lead to 4-1. Stephens also scored during the stanza, on a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Smith.

The Wildcats added another insurance run in the top of the seventh, when Davidson walked, stole second and scored on a single to right field by Jared Davis. The Greyhounds produced two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Jones hit an infield single, and Zipser followed with a double to right field, to put runners at first and third with no outs. Wagner grounded out to second base to drive in Jones, and McMann hit another grounder to second to score Zipser. Franco Barrero (Jr., 3B/1B, Laredo, TX/Laredo J.C.) singled with two outs, but the Hounds were unable to continue the rally.

Brad Seyda threw a complete game to improve his record to 4-0 for ACU. He gave up 7 hits, struck out 2 batters and allowed 2 walks. Gabe DeHoyos (Jr., RHP, Artesia, NM/Trinidad J.C.), in his first appearance since reinjuring a groin at Texas Tech on Mar. 13, took the loss and fell to 3-4 on the season.

Reliever Jerry Macias (So., RHP, Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) allowed 1 hit and 1 run in 2 innings of work. He struck out 3 batters and walked one. Jones was 2 of 2 and Zipser was 2 of 3 for the Greyhounds in the second game. McMann went 1 for 4, but drove in 2 of ENMU’s 3 runs, and finished 3 for 7 on the day. Three players recorded 2 hits apiece for ACU, which outhit ENMU, 11-7.

The Greyhounds remain at home for a non-conference double-header against College of the Southwest on Tuesday, Mar. 27. The double-header is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. (MST).