Athletic Report
March 29, 2002

ZIAS DEFEAT ANGELO STATE 6-4 AND 8-0 TO OPEN SERIES WITH DOUBLE-HEADER SWEEP
PORTALES, NM – Maegan Rhoten (So., RHP, Albuquerque, NM/Saint Pius X H.S.) threw a complete-game 3-hitter in the opener and Lauren King (So., RHP, La Mirada, CA/La Serna H.S.) tossed a complete-game 2-hitter in the nightcap, as Eastern New Mexico University swept Angelo State University, 6-4 and 8-0 (5 innings, run rule), March 29 at Zia Softball Field.

The double-header opened a 4-game Lone Star Conference series between the Zias and the Rambelles. ENMU improved to 21-14 on the season, including 3-3 in the LSC South. Angelo State dropped to 16-14 overall and to 3-3 in the LSC South. The teams will concluded the series on Saturday, March 30, starting at 12:00 p.m. (MST).

In the first game, Rhoten struck out eight batters and walked two Rambelles. She allowed 4 runs, but just 2 were earned, as ASU took advantage of two ENMU errors in the third inning. Rhoten upped her record to 8-4 on the season. Jessia Atchley fell to 9-4 for ASU. Eastern scored first when Dawn Murray (Jr., 1B/P, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) singled with one out in the second inning and later scored. Murray moved to third on a double by Kim Barajas (Fr., C/3B, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo H.S.), then scored when right fielder Amberleigh Berry threw wildly after catching a line drive by Bobbi Richardson (Fr., UT, Kerrville, TX/Tivy H.S.).

ASU took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning. Sonia Perez reached on a throwing error by Rhoten, who quickly set down the next two batters on a strikeout and a popup. Alexis Wing reached first base on another error, then both runners scored on a single by Michelle Hofmann. Jessica Rowley (Sr., SS, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) tied the game with a home run in the bottom of the third inning. It was her fourth home run of the season.

ENMU moved in front in the fourth inning, when Richardson singled up the middle with one out, moved to second on a sacrifice by Vicki Davis (Jr., OF, Gilbert, AZ/Glendale C.C.), advanced to third on an infield hit by Alison Montbriand (Sr., 2B, Austin, TX/Hill College) and scored when Rowley sent a grounder toward shortstop. The ball was misplayed, allowing Montbriand to reach second base.

ASU avoided further damage when Amanda Langford (Jr., OF, Mesquite, TX/Lon Morris J.C.) grounded out to third base. The Zias increased their lead to 6-2 by scoring three times in the fifth inning. Richardson brought home one run with a walk, while Davis drove in the second run on a ground out, and the third run crossed the plate when Sarah Ramirez (Fr., OF, San Antonio, TX/Providence H.S.) reached base on an error.

ASU closed out the scoring with two runs in the top of the sixth. Wing received a base on balls, stole second, moved to third when Hofmann grounded out and scored on a triple by Berry. Melissa Rodriguez singled to score Berry, and then moved to second on a sacrifice by Melissa Ignacio. Mandee Gamboa flied out to end the threat with ENMU leading 6-4.

The second game was scoreless until the Zias exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. ENMU sent 12 batters to the plate. Even so, the Zias managed just four hits, but also benefited from two errors. Richardson walked and Rhoten singled to start the inning. Mohler followed with another single, then Murray hit a sacrifice fly, scoring pinch runner Crystale Moore (Jr., OF/C, Albuquerque, NM/Manzano H.S.) from third. Barajas added another sacrifice fly, which allowed Rhoten to cross the plate.

Rachel Mohler (Sr., 3B, Las Vegas, NV/Green Valley H.S.) scored on a wild pitch, giving Eastern a 3-0 lead. Ramirez blasted a double to right field, bringing in the fourth run. Later, two errors allowed the final four runs to score, with a pair of Zias crossing the plate on each miscue. King faced four batters in the seventh inning, and struck out two Rambelles to giver her a five strikeouts for the game.

Gamboa’s single during the seventh was ASU’s only hit other than a single up the middle by Wing in the third inning. Wing’s single provided ASU with its best chance to score. The hit sent Krystal Williams to third base, and the Rambelles had two runners in scoring position after Wing stole second. There were two outs in the inning, however, and a fly out by Hofmann ended the stanza. The Rambelles were 2 for 15 at the plate in the second game.

ASU was 3 for 24 on offense in the first game, and finished the day with just 6 hits in 39 at bats. Murray went 2 for 3 for ENMU in the opener, while Mohler was 2 for 4. The Zias earned a total of eight hits in 27 at bats during the game. In the second game, Rhoten led the Zias by going 2 for 3. Eastern totaled just four hits in 15 at bats, but all four hits were earned during the decisive fourth inning.