Athletic Report
March 29, 2002

DeHOYOS, HULL EARN COMPLETE-GAME WINS IN DOUBLE-HEADER SWEEP OF JAVELINAS
PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico University received complete-game pitching efforts from senior Gabe DeHoyos (RHP, Artesia, NM/Trinidad J.C.) and junior Kevin Hull (RHP, New Braunfels, TX/Richland College), as the Greyhounds swept a Lone Star Conference double-header from Texas A&M-Kingsville, 7-2 and 11-3, March 29 at Greyhound Field. DeHoyos and Hull each allowed just 5 hits, as the Hounds improved to 14-22 overall and to 8-9 in the LSC South.

DeHoyos struck out 6 batters and gave up just one walk. Hull registered 4 strikeouts, while not allowing a base on balls. The pair of losses dropped TAM-Kingsville to 14-24 overall, 3-11 in the LSC South. The Greyhounds trailed 1-0 early in the first game, but exploded for 4 runs in the third inning and 3 runs in the fourth stanza to build a 7-1 lead. The Javelinas added a single tally in the sixth inning, but placed just one runner on base in the seventh, before DeHoyos closed out the contest with striking out three consecutive batters on called third strikes.

Eastern’s success in the third inning began with back-to-back walks with one out. Matt Sulli (Sr., OF, Carlsbad, CA/San Diego Mesa College) followed with a single, scoring Steven Romano (Jr., 3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate H.S.) from third base. Xarin Escobedo (Sr., SS, Mexico City, MEX/El Paso C.C.) was thrown out at home on the play. Sulli stole second, then scored when Mark Wallace (Fr., CF, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo H.S.) reached first and second base on an error by TAMUK third baseman Mike Aguirre. Wallace tallied the next run when Dallas McMann (Jr., C/DH, Amarillo, TX/Randall H.S.) singled. McMann stole second and completed the offensive surge by crossing the plate on a single by Franco Barrero (Jr., 1B/DH, Laredo, TX/Laredo J.C.).

All three of Eastern’s fourth-inning runs were scored with two outs. Escobedo walked and Sulli singled. Escobedo advanced to third on the hit, and Sulli moved to second when TAMUK attempted to throw out Escobedo on the play. Both runners scored when Wallace’s pop-up was dropped by Denzil Davis at second base.

Wallace went to second on the play, then scored on a single by McMann. The Javelinas caught McMann in a run-down when he tried to stretch the hit into a double. Kingsville’s second run of the game was scored by B.J. Griffith, who singled to open the sixth inning. He scored when Pablo Ramazzini doubled to right center. Ramazzini’s double was the only extra-base hit for either team during the game.

In the second game, the Greyhounds plated the first run in the bottom of the first stanza, but TAMU-Kingsville took a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the second inning.Wallace homered to right field for Eastern’s early run. Rudy Rendon singled and Chris Mash reached base on an error to start TAMUK’s second inning. Both players advanced one base on a sacrifice bunt by Aguirre, then scored on a double by Lee Rodriguez.

ENMU increased its lead to 6-2 with a trio of runs in the third inning, plus two more runs in the fourth inning. Both teams added one run before the Greyhounds pulled away with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Romano walked and Escobedo doubled to start the third inning. Sulli drove in Romano with a ground out, and Escobedo scored when McMann hit a two-out single to center field. McMann stole second base, then scored on a single by Barrero.

In the fourth inning, Wallace singled to bring in Escobedo and Luz Leal, Jr. (Jr., OF/LHP, Laredo, TX/Alexander Magnet H.S.) with a single. Eastern increased its lead to 7-2 in the fifth inning, when Chris Hill reached on an error, moved to second on a single by Leal, and gained the final two bases on two more errors by TAMUK. With two outs in the sixth inning, Bryan Shippey singled for the Javelinas. He scored when Rendon doubled to right field.

Eastern’s 4-run sixth inning started with a double by McMann and featured a sacrifice fly by Leal, RBI singles by Aaron Dunn (So., OF, Carlsbad, NM/N.M. Military Institute) and Romano, and an RBI double by Sulli. The Hounds pounded out 5 hits during the inning. McMann was 2 for 3 in the second game, and finished the double-header with 4 hits in 6 at bats. Escobedo was 3 for 4 and scored two runs in the nightcap, while Wallace was 2 for 5 with 3 RBIs. Sulli was 2 for 4 with two runs scored in the opening game.

Kingsville received a 2 for 2 performance from Griffith in the first game. Rendon provided the Javelinas with 2 hits in 3 at bats in the second game. DeHoyos leveled his season record at 3-3 and increased his strikeout total to 44 in 50 1/3 innings pitched. Hull improved to 3-4 with 35 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings. TAMUK pitcher Cody Thomas dropped to 4-5 in the opener, despite throwing a complete game 6-hitter. Josh Harris fell to 3-5 for the Javelinas after taking the loss in the second game.

ENMU and TAMUK are scheduled to complete the 3-game series with one 9-inning game on Saturday, March 30. First pitch is set for 12:00 noon (MST).