Kim Barajas Drives in Four Runs as ENMU Defeats Northwood, 9-2
Second Game Canceled Due to Cold Weather

CEDAR HILL, TX – Kim Barajas (So., 3B, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS) went 2 for 2 with four RBIs to lead Eastern New Mexico University to a 9-2 win over Northwood University, Feb. 16 in Cedar Hill, Texas. The second game of the double-header was canceled by Northwood due to cold weather.

The win improved ENMU to 9-7 on the season and to 4-1 in games this weekend. The Zias went 3-1 at the Lone Star Conference First Pitch Tournament, Feb. 14-15 in Irving, Texas. Northwood’s record was not available.

Eastern fell behind 1-0 when Northwood scored in the bottom of the first inning. Brooke Patterson walked to open the game, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. She scored on a single by Christina Fountain.

The Zias rallied into the lead with four runs in the second stanza. Barajas drove in the final three runs of the inning with a bases-loaded double. She also connected for a single and received one walk during the game. She added her fourth RBI later in the contest.

Northwood cut Eastern’s lead to 4-2 when designated player Lacey Manning provided a two-out, RBI single in the third inning. Latresea McGill, who doubled with one out and advanced to third base on an error, scored the run for the Knights.

ENMU increased its lead to 6-2 with a pair of runs in the fourth. Katie McDermott (Fr., C/3B, Albuquerque, NM/Rio Rancho HS) led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. The ball hit the top rail of the fence before leaving the park. It was McDermott’s third home run of the season.

The Zias plated single runs in the fifth and sixth innings for an 8-2 advantage. Jessica Cook (Sr., OF, San Antonio, TX/Lon Morris JC) drove in the final run with a double in the seventh.

Senior pitcher Katina Arocha (San Antonio, TX/Lon Morris JC) earned the win to improve to 1-2 on the season. She allowed just five hits, recorded three strikeouts and walked two batters in six innings of work. Only one of the two runs scored against her were earned. Tonie Hutzler (Fr., P, Castroville, TX/Medina Valley HS) allowed one hit while pitching the final inning.

In addition to Barajas, top ENMU hitters were McDermott, whose home run highlighted a 2 for 3 day at the plate, Misty Torrez (Jr., SS, Flagstaff, AZ/Glendale CC), who went 3 for 4 with three singles and an RBI, and Bobbi Richardson (So., DP, Kerrville, TX/Tivy HS), who was 2 for 5 with two singles. Overall, the Zias accumulated 12 hits during the game.

The Zias will soon be on the road again, as they travel to Las Cruces, N.M., for two games against New Mexico State University on Wednesday, Feb. 19. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (MST). ENMU is 3-3 all-time against the Aggies, with a double-header sweep at Portales, N.M., in 2000, a split at Las Cruces in 2001, and a pair of losses at NMSU in 2002.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Eastern New Mexico 0 4 0 2 1 1 1 9 12 1
Northwood (Texas) 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 6 0

Katina Arocha, Tonie Hutzler (7) and Katie McDermott, Elizabeth Navarro (4th). Shana Moore, Relief Pitcher (N/A) (4) and Kelly Ayala.

WP - Arocha (1-2); LP - Moore (N/A).

2B - Kim Barajas (ENMU), 3rd of season; Jessica Cook (ENMU), 3rd of season; Latresea McGill (NU)
3B - None
HR - McDermott (ENMU), 3rd of season
SB- Nikki Gay (ENMU), 8th of season