Athletic Report
March 31, 2001

ENMU SWEEPS DOUBLE-HEADER FROM 19TH-RANKED TAMU-KINGSVILLE
Zias Win 1st Game 2-1 in 10 innings; Take 2nd Game 5-0
PORTALES, NM — Jennifer Harrer (Sr., RHP, Albuquerque, NM/Hope Christian H.S.) set an Eastern New Mexico University record with 19 strikeouts, and pinch-hitter Karena Martinez (Fr., OF, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, as ENMU defeated 19th-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville, 2-1, in the first game of a double-header, Mar. 31 at Zia Softball Field. ENMU won the second game, 5-0, to sweep the double-header.

The Zias took 3 of 4 games in the Lone Star Conference series to improve to 20-7-1 on the season and 4-2 in the LSC South. TAMUK fell to 23-9 overall and 1-3 in the LSC South.

Harrer’s 19 strikeouts, plus two more when she pitched the final 1 1/3 innings of the second game, gave her 118 strikeouts for the season, breaking her own school record of 114, set last year. She threw 367 pitches during the series with the Lady Javelinas, including two complete games and two relief appearances. Harrer, now 11-4, equalled her own school record for victories in a season, while throwing 168 pitches in the 10-inning win.

Pitcher Maria Gutierrez of TAMUK, who struck out 10 batters in the 10-inning pitcher’s duel, threw 290 pitches during the series. She threw two complete games and provided relief in two others. Gutierrez tossed 139 pitches in the 10-inning game.

ENMU struck first in the opener. Jessica Rowley (Jr., SS, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.), the leadoff batter, walked and stole second base. She advanced to third on a passed ball, then scored when Rachel Mohler (Jr., 3B, Las Vegas, NV/Green Valley H.S.) singled up the middle. The score remained 1-0 until the top of the seventh inning.

In the third, Mariana Casarez singled with two outs and Sarah Norman walked, but Harrer struck out Jennifer Moffett to get out of the inning. A single and a walk also gave the Lady Javelinas two base runners with one out in the fourth, but Harrer recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.

Lesley Zambrano doubled to left center for TAMU-Kingsville with one out in the seventh to set up the tying run. Casarez hit a grounder to shortstop for the second out, leaving Zambrano at second base. Norman doubled just inside the left field line to bring Zambrano home.

The next scoring chance came in the top of the ninth, when Zambrano and Casarez hit back-to-back singles with two outs. Rowley, at shortstop, kept the second hit on the infield, forcing the runners to hold at first and second. Norman then earned the Lady Javelinas’ third consecutive hit, sending he ball through the left side and into left center.

Zambrano attempted to score on the play, but was thrown out by Diana Sedgwick (Fr., OF, San Antonio, TX/Taft H.S.), who started the game in right field, but moved to center field in the top of the eighth. Catcher Sarah Rempp (Sr., Marshalltown, IA/ Greeley Central H.S., CO) applied the tag at the plate.

The international tie-breaker was used in the 10th inning. The tie-breaker involves placing a runner at second base before each half-inning begins. Norman began the 10th at second base for TAMUK. Amanda Reed struck out, then Tracy Guadarrama hit a line drive to shortstop. Rowley caught the ball, then tagged second to double up Norman, as the inning closed with an unassisted double-play.

Eastern’s runner in the 10th was Dawn Murray (So., 1B/P, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.). Kim Paschall reached first, but did not advance Murray, on a popup several yards down the first base line. Sedgwick moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt, and Martinez followed with the game winning hit to deep left field.

ENMU scored once in the first inning of the second game, then added 4 runs in the fourth. The five runs were more than enough for Murray and Harrer, who combined for a 4-hit shutout. Mohler singled with one out in the first. Maegan Rhoten (Fr., OF/1B/P, Albuquerque, NM/ St. Pius X H.S.) hit into a fielder’s choice, but the throw to second was short, and Mohler reached the base safely.

A passed ball by Tracy Guadarrama with two outs enabled both runners to advance. Mohler scored on the same play, when Guadarrama threw wildly to third. In the fourth,

ENMU’s 4 runs were scored on 4 hits and 2 errors. Rowley earned an RBI while reaching first on an error, and Rempp recorded the second RBI on a ground out. Murray provided the final two RBIs with a double to right field. Murray pitched 5 2/3 innings. She struck out 3 batters and gave up four hits, all singles. The win improved Murray to 3-0 on the season.

TAMUK starter Amanda Reed allowed all 5 of ENMU’s runs in 2 2/3 innings, but all of the runs were unearned. Reed struck out two batters, and Gutierrez added 6 strikeouts in relief. Mohler was 2 for 4 in both games, and finished the weekend 7 of 14 (.500) for the series. Alison Montbriand (Jr., 2B, Austin, TX/Hill College) was 2 for 3 in the first game, and Sedgwick was 2 for 3 in the second game.

ENMU returns to action Apr. 6-7 at the Oklahoma City University Tournament. The Zias will also play a double-header at the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma on Apr. 8.