Athletic Report
March 15, 2002

ZIAS DEFEAT USC AIKEN, LOSE TO UNO AND ST. CLOUD ON FIRST DAY OF COLUMBUS STATE TOURNAMENT
COLUMBUS, GA – Eastern New Mexico University opened the Columbus State University Tournament, Mar. 15, with a 7-2 win over the South Carolina Aiken, but lost to defending national champion Nebraska-Omaha, 9-0, and fell to St. Cloud State University, 6-2, to finish pool play with a 1-2 record.

The Zias concluded the day with a 15-10 overall record. Details other than game scores were not available when this press release was written. ENMU tied for fourth place out of seven teams in Pool B, but Georgia College, which also went 1-2, won the tie-breaker for the pool's fourth and final berth into the championship Gold Bracket. As a result, the Zias will play in the consolation Silver Bracket on Saturday, Mar. 16.

Georgia College did not play Nebraska-Omaha during pool action. UNO won its three games by a combined score of 34-0 to take first place in Pool B. California of Pennsylvania was second, also at 3-0. St. Cloud State finished third with a 2-1 record, then came ENMU and Georgia College at 1-2. USC Aiken and Alabama-Huntsville both went 0-3 in Pool B.

The Zias will take on North Carolina Central at 7:00 a.m. (MST) on Saturday. N.C. Central was 0-3 in Pool A and was outscored 43-1. If the Zias win, ENMU will play again at 11:00 a.m. (MST) against the winner between Alabama-Huntsville and USC Aiken. If ENMU loses, the Zias will take on Fayettville State (0-3) at 11:00 a.m. (MST). Either way, Eastern will play just two games on Saturday.

Following the CSU Tournament, ENMU will return to Portales before traveling to Kingsville, Texas, for the start of Lone Star Conference South Division play on Mar. 22-23. The Zias, who won the 2001 LSC South Division title at 12-2, will take on Texas A&M University-Kingsville in a double-header on Friday, Mar. 22, at 12:00 p.m. (MST), followed by another double-header against the Javelinas on Saturday, Mar. 23, at 11:00 a.m. (MST).