Athletic Report
March 1, 2002

ZIAS FALL TO WAYNE STATE, PITTSBURG STATE AT NCAA DIVISION II LEAD-OFF CLASSIC
KINGSVILLE, TX – Eastern New Mexico University battled Wayne State University (Mich.) to a scoreless tie for seven innings, but fell to the Warriors, 1-0 in eight innings, on the opening day of the NCAA Division II Lead-Off Classic, Friday, May 1 in Irving, Texas. The Zias also fell to Pittsburg State University (Kansas), 6-3, on the first day of the tournament.

All games scheduled for the second day of the Lead-Off Classic have been cancelled due to the weather. It remains unclear whether any games will be played on Sunday, May 3.

Against Wayne State, ENMU had the first quality chance to score, but WSU left fielder Johanna Proulx threw out a runner at home in the fourth inning. Both teams were scoreless until the international tie-breaker came into play in the eighth inning. Under the tie-breaker, each team begins its at bat with a runner at second base and no outs. ENMU did not score in the top of the eighth, but Wayne State pushed across a run in the bottom of the inning.

The Warriors used a sacrifice bunt to move the international tie-breaker runner to third base. Eastern countered by intentionally walking the next two batters to set up a potential inning-ending double play. Proulx singled up the middle to drive in the winning run.

The game reached extra innings because of quality play from pitcher Lauren King (So., RHP, La Mirada, CA/La Serna H.S.) and the ENMU defense. Wayne State had the bases loaded with no outs in the seventh inning, but King worked her way out of the stanza without allowing a run. King, now 6-2 on the season, suffered the loss for ENMU. Connie Milroth was the winning pitcher for WSU.

On offense, Dawn Murray (Jr., 1B/P, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) went 2 for 3 for the Zias, while Jessica Rowley (Sr., SS, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) went 1 for 3 with a double and a stolen base. Proulx was 2 of 4 and Beth Berry was 2 of 4 for the Warriors. Rowley provided the Zias with a 2 for 3 performance against Pittsburg State.

Kim Barajas (Fr., 3B/C, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo H.S.) added a triple, a single, one run and an RBI in four at bats against the Gorillas. Karena Martinez (So., OF, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) was 1 for 3. Maegan Rhoten (So., P/LF, Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X H.S.) threw the first 5 innings for ENMU.

The Zias and the Gorillas were tied 3-3 when the game entered the sixth inning. Murray pitched the final two innings, and fell to 1-3 with the loss. Eastern, 10-8 overall, was originally slated to play St. Edwards University in the final game of pool play May 1. Due to the weather, it was uncertain when, or if, they would actually play.