Athletic Report
March 28, 2002

BARRERO'S HOMER STARTS SCORING BARRAGE AS ENMU DOWNS COLLEGE OF THE SOUTHWEST
PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico University’s Franco Barrero (Jr., 3B/1B, Laredo, TX/Laredo J.C.) hit a 3-run homer with one out in the first inning to start an offensive explosion that featured a combined 28 runs and 33 hits, as the Greyhounds defeated College of the Southwest, 17-11, at Greyhound Field on March 28.

The victory was the third in four days for ENMU, which also defeated CSW, 13-4, on Monday, March 25, and won at Lubbock Christian, 15-8, on Tuesday, March 26. ENMU is now 12-22 on the season after scoring 45 runs on 48 hits during the three games so far this week. CSW dropped to 21-9 on the season. The Mustangs have lost eight of their last 10 games since starting the season 19-1. Barrero’s homer provided the only runs of the first inning.

Matt Sulli (Sr., LF, Carlsbad, CA/San Diego Mesa College), who singled and stole second base, and Dallas McMann (Jr., DH/C, Amarillo, TX/Randall H.S.), who advanced Sulli to third with an infield single, were on base when Barrero launched a 3-0 pitch over the fence in left center. College of the Southwest scored twice in the second inning to cut Eastern’s lead to a single run. Casey Wright and Francisco Cota both scored on a two-out double by Nick Mathews.

The score remained 3-2 until the Hounds plated five runs on five hits in the fourth inning. Sulli connected for the big hit, an RBI triple to right field. Steven Romano (Sr., SS/3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate H.S.), Chris Fudge (Jr., C, Carlsbad, NM/N.M. Military Institute) and McMann each recorded an RBI single during the inning. Eastern’s final run of the stanza was scored by Mark Wallace (Fr., CF, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo H.S.), who was balked in from third.

The Greyhounds saw their 8-2 lead disappear when the Mustangs plated three runs in the fifth inning, followed by three more runs in the sixth. Jorge Camarillo hit a double in the fifth, and Casey Greebon pounded out a double in the sixth inning. Neither player earned an RBI, but both players eventually scored. Camarillo tallied the second run of the fifth inning on a single by Aaron Forrister. Greebon scored the first run of the sixth inning on a balk. The next nine runs were scored by Eastern in the bottom half of the seventh inning.

ENMU sent 14 batters to the plate and collected 7 hits during the stanza. CSW committed three errors that led to five unearned runs. The only extra-base hit of the inning was a double by McMann after Wallace flied out to start the inning. McMann later added a 2-RBI single. Barrero drove in two runs with a single to center field. CSW brought in three runs the rest of the way, but could not overcome Eastern’s 17-8 lead. Camarillo blasted a solo homer to left field in the eighth inning, and Greebon smacked a two-run homer to left field in the ninth. Greebon was 4 for 5 on the day with 2 runs and 2 RBIs.

Eastern starter Jerry Macias (Jr., RHP, Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces H.S.) threw the first six innings for ENMU, but gave up 9 hits and 6 runs in his final two innings. Reliever Josh Kuchta (Fr., RHP, Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.) pitched the final three innings to record his first win as a collegiate player. He is 1-1 on the season. Clint Hook, who threw 2 2/3 innings of middle relief for the Mustangs, fell to 1-1 with the loss.

McMann, who has been hot at the plate since mid-February, went 4 for 5 at the plate for ENMU. He scored three runs and registered three RBIs. McMann, hitting .435 for the season, has achieved a .495 batting average in Eastern’s last 26 games. Barrero finished the day with 3 hits in 5 at bats. He scored twice and drove in a game-high five runs. He is hitting .333 for the season. Sulli added 2 hits, 3 runs and an RBI in 4 at bats, while Chris Hill (Jr., 2B, Boise, ID/Scottsdale C.C.) went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored.

Greebon’s four hits led CSW. Ramon Flores contributed 3 hits in 5 at bats, while earning 3 RBIs and scoring one run. Five other Mustangs registered two hits apiece. The Greyhounds will play another eight games in a row at home, starting with a 3-game Lone Star Conference series against Texas A&M University-Kingsville. ENMU and the Javelinas will play two 7-inning games on Friday, March 29, starting at 2:00 p.m. (MST). The teams will conclude the series with one 9-inning game on Saturday, March 30, at 12:00 noon (MST).