Athletic Report
February 23, 2002

ENMU SCORES IN 10TH TO EDGE ACU, 9-8
Greyhounds Defeat #7-Ranked Wildcats in 2 of 3 Games
PORTALES, NM – Pinch-runner Ty Deichert (So., UT, Denver, CO/Lamar C.C.) scored from third on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice by Xarin Escobedo (Sr., SS, Mexico City, MEX/El Paso C.C.) with one out in the 10th inning, as Eastern New Mexico University edged Abilene Christian University, 9-8, in a Lone Star Conference game, Feb. 23 at Greyhound Field.

The win gave ENMU two victories in the 3-game weekend series, as the Greyhounds improved to 5-10 overall and 4-2 in the LSC South. Abilene Christian, ranked #7 in NCAA Division II, dropped to 12-3 on the season, 4-2 in the LSC South.

Escobedo’s game-winning RBI ended the scheduled 9-inning contest following four lead changes. The Greyhounds forced the extra inning by scoring one run in the bottom of the ninth to tie the score at 8-8. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Ryan Dickson (Sr., 1B/DH, Trail, BC/Big Bend C.C.) singled to left field with no outs. Deichert ran for Dickson, and reached second by beating the throw when Chris Hill (Jr., 2B, Boise, ID/Scottsdale C.C.) bunted toward the mound.

Matt Sulli (Sr., OF, Carlsbad, CA/San Diego Mesa College) followed with a bunt single to load the bases. Romano struck out for the first out of the inning, then Escobedo hit a grounder to the right of Munoz, who was playing second base for ACU. Munoz had to lunge toward the ball to stop its progress. He made an off-balance throw toward home, but Deichert scored on the play.

ACU took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. A two-out error in left field allowed the first run to score. Brandon Stover drove in the other two runs on a homer to left center. Eastern countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Steven Romano (Jr., 3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate H.S.) singled to open the stanza, then scored when Escobedo’s single to right field was misplayed. Escobedo advanced to third on the play, and later scored when Mark Wallace (Fr., CF, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo H.S.) reached base on an error by the shortstop. Romano’s double in the third stanza began a 2-run inning for the Greyhounds.

With two outs, Dallas McMann (Jr., C/DH, Amarillo, TX/Randall H.S.) singled in Romano. Franco Barrero (Jr., 1B/DH, Laredo, TX/Laredo J.C.) and Luz Leal, Jr., (Jr., LF/P, Laredo, TX/Alexander Magnet H.S.) hit back-to-back singles to score McMann, as ENMU took a 4-3 lead.

The Wildcats moved back in front with two runs in the fourth inning. Oscar Vargas drove in one run with a double down the left field line. Brad Massey hit a double through the left side to score Vargas later in the inning. Stover added his second homer run of the game and third homer of the series in the fifth inning, giving ACU a 6-4 advantage.

ENMU forced another lead change in the bottom of the seventh inning, when Escobedo doubled, McMann hit an infield single and Barrero blasted a 3-run homer to left center. It was Barrero’s first home run of the season. He led the Greyhounds with 9 home runs last year.

The lead was short-lived, as ACU tallied two runs in the top of the eighth. Creighton Bryan reached on a throwing error, and scored on a triple by Vargas. Another throwing error on the relay to third allowed Vargas to score on the play. Wallace, who singled with one out in the ninth inning, score the game-tying run. He reached second when his single was mishandled in right field, then scored on a single to left center by McMann.

A fly out and a ground out ended the ENMU threat. Bryan hit an infield single for ACU to start the 10th inning. With Vargas batting, Bryan left early on an attempted steal and was thrown out after a lengthy run down. Vargas eventually walked, but was thrown out at second when Louis Munoz hit into a fielder’s choice. Mike Ruiz flied out to end the inning.

Ian Thurman-Kelly (So., LHP, Denver, CO/Lamar C.C.) pitched the final two innings to earn the win. He gave up no runs and 3 hits, while improving to 2-1 on the season. He also recorded a save on Friday (Feb. 22) in Eastern’s 5-3 win over the Wildcats. ENMU starter Stan Phelps (Jr., RHP, New Boston, TX/Richland College) gave up 6 runs - 3 earned - in the first five innings, while striking out 4 batters and allowing one walk.

Scott Buffington, who entered the game with one out in the ninth inning for ACU, suffered his first loss of the season, and fell to 4-1. Buffington threw a complete game in the Wildcats’ 10-5 win over ENMU on Friday. McMann and Dickson were both 3 for 5, with McMann scoring twice and driving in two runs. Barrero was 2 for 5 with a run and 3 RBIs.

Eastern totaled 17 hits for the game. ACU had 13 hits. Marcelino Escalante was 3 for 5, and Stover went 2 for 5 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs. Vargas was 2 for 2 with 2 walks, 3 runs and 2 RBIs. He also was hit by two pitches.

The Greyhounds do not play again until Friday, May 1, when they open a 3-game LSC series with a double-header at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Game time for the opener is set for 3:00 p.m. (MST). The Hounds and the Javelinas will conclude the series with a single 9-inning game on Saturday, May 2 at 11:00 a.m. (MST).