Athletic Report
March 16, 2002

GREYHOUNDS SPLIT DOUBLE-HEADER
WITH LSC SOUTH RIVAL WEST TEXAS A&M
PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico University scored 15 runs on 17 hits and held off a late rally by West Texas A&M University, as the Greyhounds defeated the Buffaloes, 15-12, in the second game of a Lone Star Conference double-header, March 16 at Greyhound Field. In the first game, WTAMU held Eastern to just 5 hits, as the Buffaloes edged the Hounds, 4-3. West Texas A&M won 2 of 3 games during the LSC South weekend series. The Buffaloes are now 18-9, 7-4 in the LSC South. ENMU is 9-18, including 6-6 in the LSC South. The teams will meet three more times April 12-13 at the Dilla Villa in Amarillo, Texas.

In the opener on March 16, the Buffaloes took a 3-0 lead with two runs in the second inning and one run in the third stanza. Ben Hangartner scored the first run when Brian Wills hit into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. Bill Potts was thrown out at second base on the play. The second run was scored by Tommy Lozano, who dashed home on a wild pitch later in the inning. WTAMU's lone run in the third stanza went to Keaton Fails, who was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and eventually scored on a single by Micah Ladd.

The Buffs added a run in the fifth, as Hangartner singled with two outs, advanced to second on a hit by Lozano and scored on a single by Potts. Lozano led all players with 2 hits in 4 at bats.

ENMU tallied its first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth. Dallas McMann (Jr., C/DH, Amarillo, TX/Randall H.S.) walked, reached second on a single by Chris Hill (Jr., 2B, Boise, ID/ Scottsdale C.C.), and moved to third when Mark Wallace (Fr., CF, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo H.S.) hit into a double play. McMann scored on a balk by WTAMU starter Will Baldwin. Gabe DeHoyos (Sr., RHP, Artesia, NM/Artesia H.S.) retired Hangartner, Lozano and Potts in order in the seventh to keep ENMU within
striking distance. Eastern quickly scored a run in the bottom of the inning, when Matt Sulli (Sr., OF, Carlsbad, CA/San Diego Mesa College) singled through the left side, and Aaron Dunn (So., OF, Carlsbad, NM/N.M. Mil. Inst.) tripled to left center. Colby Kirchner replaced Baldwin on the mound, but hit Xarin Escobedo (Sr., SS, Mexico City,
MEX/El Paso C.C.) with a pitch, then walked Steven Romano (Jr., 3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate H.S.). Chris Fudge (Jr., C/OF, Carlsbad, NM/N.M. Military Institute) ran for Romano.

McMann drove in Eastern's second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right field. Dunn scored on the play. Escobedo stole third, then Kirchner struck out Hill. Fudge advanced the potential winning run into scoring position by stealing second base, but Kirchner struck out Wallace to end the game.

Baldwin improved to 5-2, while DeHoyos fell to 2-3. Baldwin gave up 5 hits in 6 innings, while recording 3 strikeouts and 4 walks. DeHoyos held WTAMU to 7 hits, but walked 3 batters and hit 4 batters. He also earned 4 strikeouts. Kirchner earned his second save of the year .

In the second game, the Greyhounds gave up 4 runs in the first inning, but exploded for 9 runs during the first three stanzas. ENMU pulled within 4-3 in the bottom of the first, as Sulli singled and later scored on a hit by McMann, Hill singled and eventually scored on a fielding error, and McMann scored on a sacrifice fly by Dunn.

The Hounds gave up one run in the second inning. Fails was hit by a pitch, advanced to second when Brian Evans walked, then scored on a double by Nick Williams. Evans also tried to score, but was thrown out at the plate. Williams reached third on a wild pitch, but was later thrown out attempting to score on a double-steal after Ladd walked.
Sulli hit his second single of the game in the bottom of the second inning. He also stole second base, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored on an infield single by Hill.

ENMU took control of the game with 5 runs in the third inning, as the Hounds moved in front, 9-5. Ryan Dickson (Sr., 1B/DH, Trail, BC/Big Bend C.C.) doubled to open the inning. He later scored on an infield hit by Wallace. Sulli drove in two runs with a single, McMann brought in a run on a fielder's choice, and Franco Barrero (Jr., 1B/DH, Laredo, TX/Laredo J.C.) drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly to center field.

The Greyhounds added 3 runs in the fifth inning and WTAMU plated 2 runs in the top of the sixth, as ENMU took a 12-7 lead. The Hounds added 3 more runs in the bottom of the sixth to increase their lead to 8 runs. Relief pitchers Ian Thurman-Kelly (So., LHP, Denver, CO/Lamar C.C.) and Trevor Davis (Fr., RHP, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen H.S.) gave up 5 runs on 4 hits an error in the WTAMU half of the seventh inning, but ENMU held on for the win. Hull improved to 2-3 with the victory. Joe Guzman dropped to
2-3 for the Buffaloes with the loss.

Hill was 3 for 4 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs for the Hounds. Sulli was 3 for 5 with 3 runs and 2 RBIs, while McMann went 3 for 5 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs. Barrero added 2 hits, a run and 3 RBIs in 4 at bats. Dickson and Wallace were also 2 for 4. Hangartner and Potts each went 2 of 4 for WTAMU. Trey Combs hit a 2-run homer to left field for the Buffs in the seventh inning.

ENMU returns to action on Monday, March 18, when the Hounds take on defending NCAA Division II national champion St. Mary's University. First pitch in San Antonio, Texas, is set for 6:00 p.m. (MST).