Zias Win 5-4 in Second Game of Double-Header to Gain Split at New Mexico State
Rhoten Strikes Out Six in Victory over Aggies

LAS CRUCES, NM – Junior pitcher Maegan Rhoten (Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X HS) threw a complete game, struck out six batters and broke open a 2-2 tie with a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning, as Eastern New Mexico University defeated New Mexico State University, 5-4, in the second game of a double-header, Feb. 19 at Presley Askew Softball Field. The win allowed ENMU to split the double-header. NMSU defeated the Zias, 8-2, in the first game.

Eastern is now 10-8 on the season, while New Mexico State moved to 2-11. The Zias have split a double-header against NMSU twice in the last three seasons, improving Eastern’s all-time record against the Aggies to 4-4. The Zias swept a double-header from NMSU in Portales, N.M., in 2000.

Rhoten’s double to left field was the key hit in Eastern’s 5-run fourth inning in the second game. Prior to Eastern’s offensive surge, the Zias trailed 2-0, as NMSU scored single runs in the first and third stanzas. Christine Stephens singled in both innings to earn a pair of RBIs.

With one out in the top of the fourth inning, Amanda Langford (Sr., OF, Mesquite, TX/Lon Morris JC) hit an infield single to third. Misty Torrez (Jr., SS, San Antonio, TX/Lon Morris JC) hit into a fielder’s choice that resulted in an error, allowing Langford to advance to second base. Nikki Gay (Fr., CF, Schertz, TX/Samuel Clemens HS) hit into another fielder’s choice, and Torrez was thrown out at second. NMSU tried to complete a double play, but a throwing error allowed Langford to cross the plate and Gay to advance to second.

Tracy Jordan (Fr., 2B, Rosamond, CA/Desert HS) singled to left field, driving in Gay with the tying run. Another error followed, as Kim Barajas (So., 3B/2B, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS) reached first and Jordan went to second. Bobbi Richardson (So., DP, Kerrville, TX/Tivy HS) singled to left field to load the bases, then Rhoten quickly cleared the bases with her double. All five runs in the inning were unearned.

New Mexico State crept back into contention with one run in the fifth and another run in the sixth. In the fifth, Berna Carrillo singled to open the stanza and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. She took third base when Stephens registered her third single of the game. Carrillo scored on a sacrifice fly by Sarah Stansberry. In the sixth, the Aggies had just one hit, but three walks allowed Jennie Bride to score. Stephens flied out to Gay in center field to end the inning with the bases loaded.

Rhoten had to battle out of a jam in the seventh to preserve the win. Stansberry started the stanza with a called third strike, but Noami McNeely singled to left field. Stephanie McIntosh pinch-ran for McNeely, and moved to second base when Veronica Acosta walked. Bride hit a grounder to third, as McIntosh moved to third and Acosta advanced to second. With the tying and winning runs in scoring position, Rhoten forced Devon Melby into a groundout at second.

Richardson was 3 for 4 during the game for ENMU. She was 4 for 7 on the day, with a run scored in each contest. Jordan and Langford each had two runs and two hits in the second game, with Jordan also recording one RBI. Rhoten was 1 for 3 with 3 RBIs in the win.

In the first game, NMSU took a quick lead with three runs in the bottom of the opening stanza. The Aggies had just two hits in the inning, but benefited from a pair of illegal pitches and a passed ball. Eastern cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the third, when Barajas singled and Richardson doubled with one out, and Dawn Murray (Sr., 1B/P, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad HS) hit a two-RBI single to center field with two outs.

The Aggies took control of he game with five runs in the third inning. Breana Bohls hit a three-run homer during the inning, while Stansberry earned an RBI triple and Carrillo provided an RBI single.

ENMU managed just one hit after the third inning, a two-out single by Gay in the fourth. No other Zias reached base over the final four innings, as Bride secured a complete-game victory for the Aggies. Bride struck out eight batters, while limiting ENMU to five hits and allowing two walks. She improved to 2-4 on the season.

Lauren King (Jr., RHP, La Mirada, CA/La Serna, CA), the starting pitcher for ENMU, threw for six innings. She allowed six walks, struck out three batters and gave up six hits. She fell to 4-3 with the loss. Relief pitcher Katina Arocha (Sr., RHP, San Antonio, TX/Lon Morris JC) did not allow a run in the seventh.

NMSU held a 6-5 advantage in hits during the first game, but ENMU outhit the Aggies, 11-9, in the second game. The Zias did not make an error in either game, while NMSU committed one error in the first game and four errors in the second game.
Eastern returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 22, for a non-conference double-header against the University of Texas-Permian Basin. First pitch at Zia Softball Field is set for 12 noon (MST).