Athletic Report
May 14, 2001

MEDIA ADVISORY • MAY 14, 2001 Eastern New Mexico University Softball Team Advances to NCAA Division II National Finals
PORTALES, NM — The Eastern New Mexico University softball team won the South Central Regional, May 11-12, in Pueblo, Colo., to become one of just eight teams advancing to the NCAA Division II National Finals. The National Finals will be held May 17-21 at the James I Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va. The Zias, 37-12-1 on the season, will open the National Finals against Lewis University, 52-11 overall, on Thursday, May 17 at 5:00 p.m. (EDT).

Eastern New Mexico defeated St. Mary’s University (Texas), 4-0, in the Regional championship game, to advance to the National Finals. Lewis, located in Romeoville, Ill., hosted the Great Lakes Regional and defeated Grand Valley State University (Mich.), 1-0, in the Regional championship game.

Other Regional champions: Mid-Atlantic — Bloomsburg University (Pa.), 42-5 overall; West — Humboldt State University (Calif.), 51-12-1 overall; North Central — University of Nebraska-Omaha, 49-5 overall; South Atlantic — Kennesaw State University (Ga.), 48-9 overall; Northeast — Dowling College (N.Y.), 39-15 overall; South — University of Alabama-Huntsville, 51-12 overall.

All eight teams will play first round games on Thursday, May 17, and will also play one game on Friday, May 18, in either the winner’s bracket or the loser’s bracket of the double- elimination tournament.

With only a few days between the Regional Tournament and the National Finals, Eastern’s only practice in Portales, N.M. before leaving for Salem, Va., will be on Monday, May 14, from 1:00 p.m. (MDT) until about 3:00 p.m. (MDT).

There will be a Celebration and Reception at the ENMU Campus Union Building on Monday from 5:00 p.m. (MDT) until 6:30 p.m. (MDT). Co-Head Coaches Kathleen and James Rodriguez and the Zias will be on hand.

The ENMU softball team will depart from Lubbock International Airport on Tuesday, May 15, at 8:30 a.m. (CDT) on American Airlines Flight 3826 to Dallas. The team will transfer in Dallas, and will fly US Airways to Pittsburgh, Pa. on their way to Roanoke, Va. For more information, please contact Robert McKinney, ENMU sports information director, at 505.562.4309.

ENMU Softball Team National Finals Itinerary
MONDAY, MAY 14
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (MDT)
ZIA SOFTBALL FIELD
Team Practice

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (MDT)
CAMPUS UNION BUILDING
Celebration and Reception

TUESDAY, MAY 15
8:30 a.m. (CDT)
LUBBOCK AIRPORT
Depart for National Finals

5:00 p.m. (EDT)
ROANOKE AIPORT
Arrive for National Finals

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16
11:30 a.m. (EDT)
JAMES I. MOYER SPORTS COMPLEX
National Finals Barbecue

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (EDT)
JAMES I. MOYER SPORTS COMPLEX
Team Practice

7:00 p.m. (EDT)
SALEM CIVIC CENTER
National Finals Banquet

THURSDAY, MAY 17
5:00 p.m. (EDT)
JAMES I. MOYER SPORTS COMPLEX
Eastern New Mexico Univeristy vs. Lewis University First Round Game

If ENMU wins on Thursday, the Zias will play a winner’s bracket game on Friday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). If the Zias lose on Thursday, they will play a loser’s bracket game on Friday, May 18, at 2:30 p.m. The NCAA Division II National Finals continue through Monday, May 21.