Athletic Report
May 14, 2001

ZIAS DEFEAT MESA STATE, 2-1
AT NCAA SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL
Jennifer Harrer Throws Complete Game 2-Hitter with 14 Strikeouts
PUEBLO, CO — Senior pitcher Jennifer Harrer (RHP, Albuquerque, NM/Hope Christian H.S.) of Eastern New Mexico University struck out 14 batters and threw a complete game 2-hitter, as the Zias defeated Mesa State College, 2-1, in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional, May 11 in Pueblo, Colo.

The Zias, who scored both runs on a 2-run homer from Rachel Mohler (Jr., 3B, Las Vegas, NV/Green Valley H.S.), improved to 35-12-1 on the season and advanced into the winner’s bracket. MSC fell into the loser’s bracket with a 41-11 overall record.

ENMU will play St. Mary’s University tonight (May 11) in the winner’s bracket final set for 7:00 p.m. (MDT). St. Mary’s defeated the University of Southern Colorado, 8-0, in the other first round game. The winner of this evening’s game will advance into the championship game(s) of the double-elimination tournament, slated for Saturday, May 12 at 2:00 p.m. (MDT), and 5:00 p.m. (MDT) if necessary. The loser of tonight’s game will play at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday against the winner of today’s elimination game between Mess State and Southern Colorado.

Against Mesa State, Harrer threw a perfect game through the first six innings. The Mavericks finally connected for two singles in the seventh, as Stacy Dutkiewicz hit the ball up the middle with one out and Jamie Dunn drove in MSC’s only run one out later on a bloop single to right.

Harrer stuck out seven of the first nine batters she faced, including six in a row. She struck out all three batters in the second inning. She allowed just one walk, and faced only 24 batters.

“Jennifer just pitched a heck of a game to start off the tournament,” Co-Head Coach James Rodriguez said. ENMU scored both runs on Mohler’s opposite field homer with one out in the top of the sixth inning. Alison Montbriand (Jr., 2B, Austin, TX/Hill College), started the sixth inning with a bunt single just a couple feet into fair territory.

Montbriand, who also hit a bunt single in the third inning, scored when Mohler sent a 2-2 pitch over the right field fence. It was Mohler’s 28th career home run and her 8th home run of the season.

“That was definitely the most opposite she’s ever hit it,” Rodriguez said of the right-hander’s homer to right field. “She’s hit it to right center before, but this one was definitely hit to right field ... and it was late in the game. Just pushing across a run or two when Jennifer’s pitching so well is really important.

“You’ve got to expect ... all these games are going to come down to getting a run across. Our conference tournament (Lone Star Conference) was the same way,” he added.

Maegan Rhoten (Fr., OF/1B/P, Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X H.S.) almost increased the lead to 3-0 in the top of the seventh, but her line drive blast to right field hit the yellow line at the top of the fence and remained in play. Rhoten was held to a single, but Karena Martinez (Fr., DP/OF, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) followed with a sacrifice bunt. MSC pitcher Melanie Meuchel escaped the threat by forcing a popup and a fly out to end the inning.

After Dunn drove in Dutkiewicz with Mesa’s only run, Harrer struck out Jennifer West to record the final out of the game. Harrer improved to 21-6 on the season, and increased her ENMU record for strikeouts in a season to 192. She also holds ENMU’s career record with 409 strikeouts.

Harrer’s 14 strikeouts against MSC ranked second in ENMU softball history. The school record was a 19-strikeout effort by Harrer in a 2-1, 10-inning win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Mar. 31 this season.

“I think she (Harrer) stayed within herself,” Rodriguez said. “When the game first started, she didn’t seem to be throwing so fast, then as the game went on she kept increasing her power. She really took charge of the game.”