Athletic Report
April 5, 2002

BARAJAS, RAMIREZ, RHOTEN BLAST HOMERS, BUT ZIAS FALL TO TEXAS WOMAN’S, 6-4 AND 8-3
PORTALES, NM – Kim Barajas (Fr., C/3B, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo H.S.) hit a two-run homer in the first game, and Sarah Ramirez (Fr., OF, San Antonio, TX/Providence H.S.) smacked a solo homer and Maegan Rhoten (So., RHP/OF, Albuquerque, NM/Saint Pius X H.S.) added a two-runner homer in the second game, but Eastern New Mexico University fell to Texas Woman’s University, 6-4 and 8-3, Friday, April 5 at Zia Softball Field. TWU improved to 32-8 overall, 6-2 in the LSC South. Eastern dropped to 22-17 on the season, 4-6 in the LSC South.

ENMU took a 4-0 lead in the first game, before the Pioneers rallied for the win. Eastern tallied all four runs in the second inning, with Dawn Murray (Jr., 1B, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) starting things off with a one-out double. Barajas followed with her third homer of the season, as the Zias took a 2-0 lead. Ramirez doubled and Vicki Davis (Jr., OF, Gilbert, AZ/Glendale C.C.) walked, putting runners at first and second. Alison Montbriand (Sr., 2B, Austin, TX/Hill J.C.) hit a sacrifice bunt to move the batters one base. Jessica Rowley (Sr., SS, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) then blasted a double, bringing Ramirez and Davis across the plate.

The Pioneers tallied one run in the third inning, added three runs in the fourth inning to tie the score, and moved in front for good with two runs in the fifth inning. Lori Pollard singled and later scored on a double by Leah Smith in the third stanza. In the fourth inning, Amara Ellis hit an RBI double to center field and Teresa Flores drove in two runs with a single, as the Pioneers tied the game, 4-4.

In the fifth, Jami Ingram hit an RBI double and Ellis recorded an RBI single. Eastern helped TWU with three errors in both games. In the opener, two errors by ENMU in the fourth inning led to two unearned runs for the Pioneers. Ramirez doubled, Davis walked and Montbriand received a base on balls to start the bottom half of the fourth inning.

Two strikeouts and a ground out allowed relief pitcher Devin Blew to get out of the jam. Blew entered the game before Montbriand walked to load the bases. Neither team scored after TWU took a 6-4 lead. Blew improved to 5-1 with the win. She held ENMU hitless over the final four innings, while striking out 6 batters and allowing 2 walks. Ingram, Ellis and Smith each hit a double for Texas Woman’s in the first game. Ellis was 2 for 3, Ingram and three other players went 2 for 4, and Smith was 1 for 2.

TWU outhit ENMU, 13-6, during the game. Ramirez with 2 for 2 with two doubles for the Zias, while Rowley and Barajas each registered 2 RBIs. Murray, Barajas, Ramirez and Davis each scored one run. All of TWU’s runs in the second game were earned during a pair of 4-run innings. In the second inning, Lori Pollard drove in Megan Helms with an RBI single and Flores drove in three runs with a homer. Both run-scoring hits came with two outs in the inning.

In the fourth inning, two singles and an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt loaded the bases for the Pioneers. Rhoten moved from left field to the mound in relief of starter Lauren King (So., RHP, La Mirada, CA/La Serna H.S.). The first batter Rhoten faced, Joanne De La Rosa, blasted a grand slam, as TWU increased its lead to 8-0.

ENMU avoided losing on the 8-run rule in five innings, as the Zias tallied their first run of the game with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Ramirez homered down the left field line, with the ball just staying fair as a crosswind gradually sent it toward foul territory. It was Ramirez’s first home run of the season. Rhoten supplied Eastern’s final two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, with a homer to left field. Murray, who singled to open the stanza, also scored on the play. The home run was Rhoten’s fourth of the year, as she tied Rowley for the team lead.

Texas Woman’s achieved a 9-6 advantage in hits during the second game. Teresa Flores was 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs, while Pollard finished 3 for 4 with 2 runs and an RBI. Eastern’s six hits were recorded by six players. Dawn England, now 10-4, earned the win for TWU. She gave up six hits and struck out two batters in recording the complete-game victory. She also walked two batters and hit on batter. Katina Arocha, who gave up 4 runs and 4 hits in the first two innings, suffered the loss for ENMU. She fell to 2-3 on the season.

The Zias and the Pioneers will play another double-header on Saturday, April 6. First pitch at Zia Softball Field is set for 1:00 p.m. (MST).