Athletic Report
April 6, 2002

PIONEERS COMPLETE SWEEP OF ZIAS WITH 6-4 AND 6-5 WINS
PORTALES, NM – Texas Woman’s University completed a 4-game sweep of the Zias by winning both games of a Lone Star Conference double-header, 6-4 and 6-5, at Zia Softball Field on Saturday, April 6. The Pioneers, who also swept a double-header on Friday, 6-4 and 8-3, improved to 34-18 overall, 8-2 in the LSC South. Eastern New Mexico University fell to 22-19 overall and to 4-8 in the LSC South. TWU opened Saturday’s double-header with a leadoff homer by Teresa Flores in the top of the first inning.

ENMU countered with a leadoff home run by Maegan Rhoten (So., P/LF, Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X H.S.) in the bottom of the second inning. Eastern fell behind 3-1 when the Pioneers plated two runs in the third inning. Flores began the stanza with a single. Sascha Taylor followed with another single and Joanne De La Rosa advanced both runners with a ground out in front of the plate. Flores scored and Taylor moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Monica Romero. Jami Ingram walked, then Kasie Ostrom drove in Taylor with a single to left center. ENMU immediately answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, as the Zias took a 4-3 lead.

With one out, Bobbi Richardson (Fr., UT, Kerrville, TX/Tivy H.S.) reached base on an error by Ostrom at shortstop. Kim Barajas (Fr., C/3B, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo H.S.) walked, but Jessica Rowley (Sr., SS, Dallas, OR/Clackamas H.S.) hit into a fielder’s choice and Richardson was thrown out at third for the second out of the inning. Rachel Mohler (Sr., 3B, Las Vegas, NV/Green Valley H.S.) walked to load the bases. All three runners scored on a triple by Rhoten, who finished the game with 2 hits, 4 RBIs and a run scored in 3 at bats for the Zias.

TWU scored three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good. Kristi Leard singled and later scored on an error to tie the game, 4-4. The Pioneers moved in front later in the inning, when De La Rosa blasted a 2-RBI double. Taylor and Lori Pollard scored on the play. Brittany Willson, who threw a complete-game 5-hitter, shut down the Zias over the final four innings.

ENMU registered just four hits during those stanzas, a double by Mohler in the sixth inning and a double by Richardson in the seventh inning.Both runners were left at second base. Willson struck out 6 batters and allowed just 2 walks, while improving to 18-3 on the season.

Rhoten, who pitched the first 3 1/3 innings for ENMU, took the loss and fell to 9-6 overall. Rhoten registered 3 strikeouts and gave up 2 walks. Dawn Murray (Jr., P/1B, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) pitched 3 2/3 innings of hitless relief for the Zias. Flores was 2 for 4 with 2 runs and an RBI for Texas Woman’s. Leard also went 2 for 4, and scored one run. Rhoten was the only Zia with more than one hit. In the second game, ENMU and TWU combined to score five runs in the opening stanza.

The Pioneers opened the high-scoring inning with two runs, as Romero and De La Rosa scored on a double by Ingram. Eastern tallied three runs in the bottom of the inning, with Barajas driving in one run with a single and Rhoten plating the final two runs with her third homer of the 4-game series. Sarah Ramirez doubled to start the rally, and later scored on Barajas’ single.

The Pioneers tied the game with a run in the third inning, and later took a 5-3 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Ingram drove in the third-inning run with her second double of the game, while Romero brought home both runs in the fifth inning with a single. For the second time during the game, ENMU immediately rallied after falling behind by two runs. Ramirez singled with one out in the bottom of the fifth.

Dalia Flores (Sr., C, Allen, TX/Vernon Regional J.C.) also singled, and Barajas doubled, allowing Ramirez to cut the deficit to 5-4. Rhoten walked on four pitches to load the bases, then Murray hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Flores with the tying run.

Neither team scored in the sixth inning, but the Pioneers pushed across the winning run in the top of the seventh. De La Rosa singled with one out and advanced to second when the ball was mishandled in left field. Romero walked and Ingram grounded out, as De La Rosa moved to third base. Ostrom hit into an error at third base and De La Rosa scored on the play. Willson, now 19-3, picked up the win as the third in a trio of TWU pitchers during the game.

Dawn Murray, who threw the final 1 2/3 innings for ENMU, took the loss and dropped to 1-5. De La Rosa was 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored for the Pioneers. Romero was also 3 for 3, and scored twice, while driving in 2 runs. Ingram went 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs. ENMU was led by Ramirez, who went 2 for 3 with 2 runs, and by Barajas, who was 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBIs. Rhoten was 1 for 2 with a run and 2 RBIs.

The Zias’ next games are on Friday, April 12, when ENMU starts a 4-game LSC South series with a double-header at Abilene Christian University. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. (MDT).