Athletic Report
March 26, 2002

EASTERN NEW MEXICO POUNDS OUT 18 HITS IN 15-8 WIN OVER LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN
LUBBOCK, TX – Eastern New Mexico University pounded out 18 hits, including six for extra bases, as the Greyhounds defeated Lubbock Christian University, 15-8, March 26 at Hays Field. The Hounds improved to 11-22 with the win, while LCU dropped to 25-10. ENMU has scored 28 runs on 33 hits in its last two games. The Greyhounds defeated College of the Southwest, 13-4, on Monday, March 25.

In the two games, Eastern blasted a total of eight doubles, four triples and three home runs. Heading the list of extra-base hitters against LCU were Chris Hill (Jr., 2B, Boise, ID/Scottsdale C.C.) and Mark Wallace (Fr., CF, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo H.S.). Hill launched a 2-run homer to left field in the first inning and added an RBI triple in the sixth.

Wallace belted an RBI triple in the fourth, and smacked a leadoff double and scored in the sixth. Wallace also hit a single in the third inning. He was 3 for 5 overall, while hitting for three-quarters of the cycle. He scored 3 runs and earned 1 RBI. Hill’s home run concluded a 3-run first inning for the Greyhounds.

Leadoff batter Matt Sulli (Sr., LF, Carlsbad, CA/San Diego Mesa College) was hit by a pitch and stole second base. He scored on a single by Franco Barrero (Jr., 1B/DH, Laredo, TX/Laredo J.C.). Barrero reached second base on a balk before Hill belted his second four-bagger of the season. ENMU increased its lead to 5-0 in the third inning. Wallace and Barrero singled and Hill walked, loading the bases.

Ryan Dickson (Sr., DH/1B, Trail, BC/Big Bend C.C.) drove in two runs with a single to left field. The Chaparrals tallied their first run in the bottom of the third, when an error with two outs allowed Josh Ramos to reach first and second. He advanced to third on a balk, then scored on a wild pitch.

ENMU answered with one run in the fourth and three runs in the fifth for a 9-1 lead. Wallace’s triple brought in Xarin Escobedo (Sr., SS, Mexico City, MEX/El Paso C.C.) with the only run of the fourth inning. Wallace tried to score on an overthrow at third, but was thrown out at the plate. In the fifth, all three runs came with two outs, following a passed ball on a third strike.

Aaron Dunn (Jr., RF, Carlsbad, NM/N.M. Military Institute), who benefited from the dropped strike, scored later on a single by Steven Romano (Jr., 3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate H.S.). Dickson also scored when Romano’s single was misplayed in right field. Escobedo, who went 3 for 4 for the second day in a row, drove in Romano with a double.

LCU cut the margin to three runs by scoring five times with two outs in the fifth inning. Eastern starter Trevor Davis (Fr., RHP, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen H.S.) almost got out of the inning with the 8-run lead intact. Escobedo’s throw for an inning-ending double-play, after catching a fly ball at shortstop, went past second and kept the inning alive.

The Chaps recorded six hits during the stanza, including a 2-run homer by Aaron Schroeder. Wallace and McMann opened the sixth inning with back-to-back doubles, as Eastern took a 10-6 lead. McMann added another run one out later on Hill’s triple to center field. The Chaparrals pulled back within three runs when Rohan Brasher sent a home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth inning.

ENMU added one run in the eighth and three more in the ninth to solidify the Hounds’ lead. McMann and Chris Fudge (Jr., OF/C, Carlsbad, NM/N.M. Military Institute) each hit an RBI single in the ninth. Davis fell one out short of the required five innings for a starter to receive the win. Stan Phelps (Jr., RHP, New Boston, TX/Richland College), who gave up the homer to Brasher, but allowed no other hits in 2 1/3 innings, received the win. He is 1-4 on the season.

Jamie Carroll, who started for LCU, dropped to 4-3 with the loss. In addition to Wallace at 3 for 5 and Escobedo at 3 for 4, the Greyhounds also received two or more hits from McMann (2 for 6), Barrero (2 for 6), Hill (2 for 3), Dickson (2 for 5) and Romano (2 for 5). Hill led the way with 3 RBIs, while McMann and Dickson each drove in two runs. For Lubbock Christian, Cooper Vittitow was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI, and Marc Chavez recorded 2 hits in 5 at bats. Ramos was 0 for 2, but walked two times and was the only Chap to score twice. LCU totaled 9 hits overall.

ENMU returns to action on Thursday, March 28, against College of the Southwest. The Greyhounds will host the Mustangs in a 9-inning game, starting at 2:00 p.m. (MST). Eastern’s game with CSW opens a 9-game homestand for the Hounds. ENMU will continue the homestand with a 3-game Lone Star Conference series against Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Friday, March 29 (2:00 p.m.) and Saturday, March 30 (12:00 noon).