Athletic Report
March 23, 2001

ACU EDGES ENMU 4-2 IN 13 INNINGS
PORTALES, NM — Chris Stephens hit a 2-run homer to left field with two outs in the top of the 13th inning, as Abilene Christian University edged Eastern New Mexico University, 4-2, in the first game of a 3-game Lone Star Conference weekend series at Greyhound Field.

With the win, Abilene Christian improved to 24-9 on the season, including 9-4 in the LSC South. Eastern New Mexico fell to 13-18 overall, 6-7 in the LSC South.

ENMU and ACU will play two 7-inning games on Saturday, Mar. 24 (12:00 noon MST), to complete the series. ACU starter Grant Gregg and ENMU starter Rich Thomas both threw well. Gregg left after 7 innings, and gave way to Aaron Lawler, who pitched the final 6 innings. Gregg gave up just 6 hits and an unearned run. Thomas left the mound at the end of the eighth, having allowed 2 runs on 8 hits. He was relieved by Tim King, who tossed the final 5 innings for the Hounds.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning, when ENMU scored one run. Franco Barrero (Jr., 1B/3B, Laredo, TX/Laredo J.C.) reached first on an error by third baseman Dion Valdivia with one out. Steven Romano (So., 3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate H.S.) followed with the single to right field. Jeff Zipser (Sr., 2B/SS, Las Vegas, NV/Victor Valley College) singled through the left side, scoring Barrero.

ACU tallied two runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead. David Tuley opened the inning with a triple down the right field line. Valdivia then hit a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Tuley to score the tying run. One out later, with the bases empty, Brad Massey hit a home run to left field, and the Wildcats moved in front.

Luz Leal, Jr. (So., OF/P, Laredo, TX/Alexander Magnet H.S.) singled through the right side with one out in the eighth inning to start ENMU’s rally for the tying run. Kyle Wagner (Fr., OF, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) ran for Leal, and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Barrero drove in Wagner with a single to left field. Neither team scored again until Stephens’ home run in the 13th inning.

ENMU did not record a hit after the 8th inning, and earned its final base runner of the game when Romano was hit by a pitch in the 11th inning. The Wildcats managed one hit in the 10th inning, and recorded 2 hits in the 13th.

ACU outhit ENMU, 11-8, overall. Adam Thomas singled with no outs to start the 13th. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Davidson, then reached third on a ground out by Jeremy Smith. Stephens hit the game-winning homer two pitches later.

Lawler received the win to improve to 2-0 on the season. King dropped to 2-4 on the season with the loss. Thomas and King combined for 11 strikeouts, with King fanning 6 batters and allowing no walks. ACU’s pitchers earned 4 strikeouts apiece. Romano was 2 of 4 and Zipser was 2 of 5 for ENMU. Eight of ACU’s hits were by Stephens and Adam Thomas, who each went 4 for 6.

The game was one inning short of the ENMU record for longest game. The Greyhounds and the University of New Mexico played a 14-inning game on Feb. 5, 1996. New Mexico won the game, 8-7, in Albuquerque.