Athletic Report
April 28, 2001

ENMU FINISHES IN SECOND PLACE AT LONE STAR CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Zias Win Once, Lose Twice to SE Oklahoma
IRVING, TX — The Eastern New Mexico University took second place at the Lone Star Conference Softball Tournament after defeating Southeastern Oklahoma State University once and losing to the Lady Savages twice on the final day of the tournament, Apr. 28 at Southwest Park. The Zias defeated SE Oklahoma, 5-0, in the winner’s bracket final, but lost twice after the Lady Savages joined ENMU in the championship round.

SE Oklahoma defeated the Zias, 1-0, in the second meeting between the two teams, giving ENMU its first loss of the tournament. The Lady Savages then slipped past the Zias, 2-1 in 10 innings, in the decisive championship game.

Eastern New Mexico 5, SE Oklahoma 0
ENMU won the first game between the two teams by combining timely hitting with the excellent pitching of Jennifer Harrer (Sr., RHP, Albuquerque, NM/Hope Christian H.S.). Harrer limited the Lady Savages to just 4 hits, while recording 7 strikeouts and giving up 2 walks. Meanwhile, the Zias pounded out 10 hits, and scored two runs in the third inning, one run in the fifth and two more runs in the seventh.

Rachel Mohler (Jr., 3B, Las Vegas, NV/Green Valley H.S.) singled in the third inning and eventually scored Eastern’s first run. Sarah Rempp (Sr., C, Marshalltown, IA/Greeley Central H.S.) also singled and scored in the third inning. She crossed the plate on a two-out single by Karena Martinez (Fr., DP/OF, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.). Both runs were unearned, as SOSU committed two errors during the stanza.

Jessica Rowley (Jr., SS, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) singled with a runner on first in the fifth inning. She reached second when Rempp hit into a fielder’s choice, advanced to third on a single by Maegan Rhoten (Fr., OF/1B/P, Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X H.S.), and scored on a wild pitch. Martinez reached on a fielder’s choice in the seventh.

She advanced when Suzy Seitzinger (Sr., OF/P, Bloomfield, NM/Bloomfield H.S.) walked, then scored from second when Dawn Murray (So., 1B/P, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) reached on an error by SOSU relief pitcher Annette Ropp.

Seitzinger hit ENMU’s only extra-base hit of the game, a double to lead off the fourth inning. A strikeout, a ground out and a fly out left Seitzinger stranded at third.

SE Oklahoma used a single, a walk and a hit batsman to load the bases with two outs in the fourth, but Adrienne Stoops interfered with Rowley at shortstop to record the third out. SOSU’s only extra-base hit was a double by Jenni Langford with two outs in the fifth. Mohler led ENMU with 2 hits in 3 at bats.

Rempp went 2 for 4 and Rowley was 1 for 4 with 2 runs scored. No one had more than one hit for SE Oklahoma. Harrer improved to 20-6 with the win. SOSU starter Krystel Markwardt fell to 20-11 with the loss.

SE Oklahoma 1, Eastern New Mexico 0
After Southeastern Oklahoma eliminated Abilene Christian, 4-0, the Lady Savages met the Zias for a second time. An ENMU victory would have given the Zias the LSC title, but SOSU won a defensive battle, 1-0.

The game’s only run was scored in the second inning. With on out, Christina Armstrong recorded an infield hit to shortstop. Armstrong later stole second, then scored on a two-out single to right field by Amanda Sill.

The final out of the inning was recorded at second base, when Sill was caught stealing. A hit by Murray and an error by Markwardt gave the Zias runners at first and third with one out in the third stanza.

The Lady Savages retained their slim lead when Mohler flied out to left and Rowley lined out to third. ENMU’s only other hit during the game was a single by Mohler in the sixth inning. Rempp walked in the same inning, but the Zias were unable to score.

Markwardt finished the game with 5 strikeouts, and gave up just 2 walks. The two-hitter improved her record to 22-11. Murray, who pitched the first three innings, before Harrer entered the game in relief, fell to 7-2 on the season.

Murray gave up just 3 hits and Harrer allowed 1 hit. Sill, who went 2 for 2 with an RBI for SOSU , was the only player with two hits.

SE Oklahoma 2, Eastern New Mexico 1, 10 innings (Championship)
The third meeting between ENMU and SE Oklahoma was a classic championship game. Harrer and Markwardt both maintained impressive control, as they kept the Zias and the Lady Savages of the scoreboard for the first nine innings.

Markwardt registered 8 strikeouts, while Harrer fanned 5 batters. Harrer threw 175 pitches and Markwardt threw 139 pitches. ENMU left the bases loaded twice during the game. In the second inning, Martinez and Seitzinger hit back-to-back singles with one out. Murray followed with a walk, as ENMU filled the bases.

A fielder’s choice resulted in Martinez being forced out at home. Markwardt ended the inning with a strikeout. In the fifth, Rhoten singled with two outs. Mohler also singled, and Rowley was hit by a pitch.

SE Oklahoma recorded a ground out to keep the game scoreless. Martinez gave Eastern another excellent scoring chance in the sixth inning, when she hit a leadoff triple down the right field line.

One out later, Leslie Pebworth entered the game in right field for SOSU and Diana Sedgwick (Fr., OF, San Antonio, TX/Taft H.S.) ran for Martinez. Murray sent a line drive to right field, but Pebworth caught the ball, then threw accurately to home plate, where Stoops tagged Sedgwick for the third out. Tiffany Rothell doubled in the second inning for SOSU, but did not score.

The Lady Savages had two base runners in the sixth, when Kelly Baker singled and Stoops walked, but a double play and a fly out killed the threat. A single and an error gave SOSU another pair of runners with one out in the seventh, but Rempp caught back-to-back fly balls behind home plate. Rempp also doubled in the eighth inning to give ENMU the first scoring threat in extra innings.

SE Oklahoma, which had already recorded one out in the inning, escaped the stanza without allowing the run. When the game reached the 10th inning, the teams used the international tie-breaker. In the tie-breaker, a runner is placed at second base to start each half inning.

Alison Montbriand (Jr., 2B, Austin, TX/Hill College) began the 10th inning at second base for ENMU. She remained at second for the first two outs, as Markwardt registered a strikeout and Langford caught a foul ball near third. Mohler answered with a double to center , scoring Montbriand with the game’s first run. Rowley grounded out to Markwardt to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 10th, Ropp went to second base for SOSU. Baker provided a sacrifice bunt, advancing Ropp to third. Stoops walked and stole second base, then Armstrong walked to load the bases. Rothell hit her second double of the game, scoring Ropp and Stoops, as the Lady Savages won the game, 2-1.

ENMU earned 8 hits and SE Oklahoma recorded 7 hits. Mohler led the Zias, and Rothell paced the Lady Savages, each with 3 hits in 5 at bats. Martinez went 2 of 4 for ENMU, and Baker was 2 of 4 for SOSU.

Markwardt, who was named LSC Tournament MVP, improved to 23-11 with the win. Harrer dropped to 20-6 with the loss, but joined Markwardt on the All-Tournament Team. Other All- Tournament selections for ENMU were Rempp at catcher, Mohler at third base and Martinez at designated player.

In addition to Markwardt, the Lady Savages placed four other players on the All-Tournament squad. They were Stoops at catcher, Sill at shortstop, Langford at utility player, and Rothell in the outfield.

Also named to the All-Tournament Team were Melissa Williams (1B) and Robin Woodall (2B) from Abilene Christian, and Marcie Villa (OF) from Tarleton State. Despite the losses to Southeastern Oklahoma, the Zias remain in contention for their first ever NCAA Division II National Tournament berth.

The Zias entered the LSC Tournament ranked 3rd in the South Central Region, and have an excellent chance to remain among the top four teams. The NCAA will select four teams from each of eight regions to create the 32-team NCAA Tournament field, which will be announced on Monday, May 7.