Athletic Report
March 30, 2001

JAVELINAS EDGE GREYHOUNDS, 7-6 IN FIRST GAME OF 3-GAME SERIES
KINGSVILLE, TX — Texas A&M University-Kingsville slipped past Eastern New Mexico University, 7-6, in the first game of a 3-game Lone Star Conference weekend series, Friday, Mar. 30 in Kingsville, Texas. TAMUK and ENMU will conclude the series with a double-header on Saturday, Mar. 31. The win improved Kingsville to 16-22 overall and to 5-8 in the LSC South. ENMU fell to 13-21 overall and to 6-10 in the LSC South.

Friday’s game featured 5 lead changes, with TAMU-Kingsville rallying from a 6-5 deficit with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Starting pitcher Mike Adams of TAMUK threw a complete-game, recording 10 strikeouts and allowing 2 walks. He evened his record at 5-5 on the season.

ENMU scored first when Xarin Escobedo (Jr., SS/2B, Mexico City, MEX/El Paso C.C.) singled to open the third inning, and later scored on a single by Matt Sulli (Jr., OF, Carlsbad, CA/San Diego Mesa College). TAMUK answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, as Adrian Rosales drove in two runs with a two-out single.

The lead changed again in the top of the fourth, as ENMU plated two runs to take a 3-2 advantage. Dallas McMann (So., C, Amarillo, TX/Randall H.S.) started the inning with a single. He scored from first when a single by Luz Leal, Jr. (So., OF/P, Laredo, TX/Alexander Magnet H.S.) was misplayed by the center fielder. Leal advanced to third on the play, then scored on a triple by Escobedo.

In the fifth inning, Kingsville regained the lead with three runs. Rosales earned his third RBI of the game when his single drove in Aaron Higginbotham. Lavelle Morgan and Armando Huerta also hit RBI singles during the inning. Eastern New Mexico scored three runs of its own in the sixth inning. McMann, Franco Barrero (So., 1B/3B, Laredo, TX/Laredo J.C.) and Leal recorded consecutive singles to load the bases with no outs. Adams struck out the next two batters, but Steven Romano (So., 3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate H.S.) cleared the bases with a double. Romano was thrown out at third as he attempted to stretch the hit into a triple.

ENMU led 6-5 after six innings. The Javelinas tied the game on Esteban Galindo’s run in the seventh. Galindo started the inning with a single, then advanced to second when John Dean walked. B.J. Griffith hit a sacrifice bunt back to the mound, advancing Galindo and Dean on base each. Galindo scored when Morgan and Huerta received back-to-back walks. Galindo was part of the game-winning run in the eighth. Jerrett Sandridge singled with no outs, then gave way to pinch-runner Sam Gordon. Denzil Davis sacrificed Gordon to second, then Higginbotham flied out to right field. With two outs, Galindo tripled, driving in Gordon with the go-ahead run.

ENMU put two runners on base with one out in the ninth, but the Greyhounds were unable to score the tying run. Andy Hostetler (Jr., OF, Albuquerque, NM/Valley H.S.) and Sulli both singled during the inning, but were left at first and second when Adams struck out David Jones (Sr., OF/SS, Sierra Vista, AZ/Eastern Arizona) and McMann to end the game. Galindo led all players with 3 hits in 4 at bats. He also scored two runs for the Javelinas. Eight other players — including five Greyhounds — recorded two hits apiece.

Eastern’s top hitters were Leal, Escobedo and Hostetler at 2 for 4, and Sulli and McMann at 2 for 5. ENMU outhit TAMUK, 12-11, but the Javelinas benefited from five walks and two hit batsmen. ENMU starting pitcher Rich Thomas (Jr., RHP, Albuquerque, NM/Trinidad J.C.) went 4 2/3 innings and allowed 5 runs. Reliever Gabe Estrada (Jr., RHP, Jal, NM/New Mexico J.C.) recorded the last out of the fifth inning, and Tim King (Sr., RHP, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) threw the final three innings for the Greyhounds. King (2-5) received the loss.

Both teams played solid defense. The Greyhounds turned two double plays and did not commit an error. TAMUK made just one error, while recording 14 ground outs and 1 fly out.

ENMU has lost 12 games this season by one run or in extra innings. The Greyhounds have also won three games by a single run.