Athletic Report
April 12, 2002

ENMU FALLS TO WEST TEXAS A&M, 15-12 NCAA
Division II Regular Season Record Crowd of 2,021 Watches Greyhounds take on Buffaloes at Dilla Villa
AMARILLO, TX – West Texas A&M University scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 14-9 lead, then held of Eastern New Mexico University, as the Buffaloes defeated the Greyhounds, 15-12, in a scheduled 9-inning game, April 12 at the Dilla Villa in Amarillo, Texas. The game was seen by 2,021 fans, which set an NCAA Division II regular season record for attendance at a baseball game. The old record was 2,005 spectators who watched Mesa State College host Regis College on April 30, 1999.

The Buffaloes improved to 26-16 overall, including 11-9 in the Lone Star Conference South Division. The Greyhounds slipped to 17-26 on the season, 8-11 in the LSC South. ENMU and WTAMU will close out the 3-game series with a double-header on Saturday, April 13. First pitch at the Dilla Villa is set for 11:00 a.m. (MST). ENMU scored first, plating two runs in the top of the second inning.

Xarin Escobedo (Sr., SS, Mexico City, MEX/El Paso C.C.) singled with one out and later scored the first run on a passed ball. Aaron Dunn (So., OF, Carlsbad, NM/N.M. Military Institute) also singled during the stanza. He eventually scored on a wild pitch.

West Texas A&M countered with 5 runs in the bottom of the inning. Keaton Fails provided the big hit, a 3-run homer that concluded the scoring. Bryant Cook brought home the first two runs with a single to left field. Mark Wallace (Fr., CF, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo H.S.) singled in the third inning and eventually scored on a wild pitch. His trip around the bases was aided by a walk issued to Dallas McMann (Jr., C, Amarillo, TX/Randall H.S.) and was also helped when Ryan Dickson (Sr., DH/1B, Trail, BC/Big Bend C.C.) was hit by a pitch.

The Greyhounds surged into a 9-5 lead by scoring 6 runs in the fourth inning. ENMU earned five hits during the stanza, including 2-run singles by Matt Sulli (Sr., OF, Carlsbad, CA/San Diego Mesa College) and Escobedo. Wallace and McMann each singled in one run during the inning. The remaining hit for ENMU was a leadoff single by Dunn. WTAMU tied the game with 4 runs in the fourth inning.

The Buffaloes regained the lead with 5 runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ben Hangartner drove in 3 runs with a double to center field in the fourth inning. The final run of the stanza was scored by Hangartner when Travis Denson doubled to right field. All four runs were scored after ENMU put out the first two batters of the inning.

In the sixth, Danny Cerecedes drove in two runs on a single with one out. With two outs, Cook reached on an error, allowing two more runs to score.The final run was scored by Cook, who crossed the plate on a double down the left field line by Bill Potts.

ENMU cut its deficit from five runs to 14-12 by scoring two times in the seventh inning, then adding one run in the eighth. WTAMU stopped the rally with an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Sulli tripled to center field for ENMU in the seventh, earning two RBI’s on the play. He was thrown out at home trying to stretch the hit into an inside-the-park home run. In the eighth, McMann recorded Eastern’s run when Escobedo singled to right field.

WTAMU’s final run was scored by Denson, who doubled to open the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cerecedes and reached home plate on a double by Cook. Joe Guzman, who pitched four innings of middle relief for the Buffaloes, was credited with the win. He improved to 3-3 on the season, despite giving up 6 runs (4 earned).

Stan Phelps (Jr., RHP, New Boston, TX/Richland College) threw middle relief for ENMU. He suffered the loss and allowed 9 runs (6 earned) in 2 2/3 innings. Starter Trevor Davis (Fr., RHP, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen H.S.) allowed 5 runs, while throwing the first three innings. Jerry Macias (Jr., RHP, Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) threw the final 2 1/3 innings for the Hounds and gave up just one run on two hits. Macias also registered two strikeouts.

Potts achieved 3 hits in 5 at bats for West Texas A&M. Six other Buffaloes earned two hits apiece, as WTAMU finished the game with a total of 16 hits. ENMU registered 13 hits, led by Escobedo, who went 4 for 5 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs, and by McMann, who was 3 for 4 with 2 runs and an RBI. Sulli, Wallace and Dunn each recorded two hits.

WTAMU committed four errors during the game, compared to one error by the Greyhounds. ENMU’s pitching staff gave up 6 walks, and WTAMU pitchers walked 4 batters. Bergara and Guzman of WTAMU, and Davis of ENMU, each hit one batter with a pitch.