Zias Set Records in 9-8, 11-Inning Win
to Start Double-Header Sweep of Northwood
Nikki Gay is 6 for 9 with 2 Triples, 3 Runs, 4 RBIs

PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico University tied a school record with 50 at bats and tied an NCAA Division II record with 20 runners left on base, as the Zias defeated Northwood University (Texas), 9-8 in 11 innings, to start a double-header, March 20 at Zia Softball Field. Eastern won the second game, 2-1, to improve to 20-13. Northwood fell to 7-8.

Freshman center fielder Nikki Gay (Schertz, TX/Samuel Clemens HS) led the Zias with 6 hits in 9 at bats on the day. She hit a bases-loaded triple with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings in the first game, then brought in the winning run when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and no outs in the 11th.

Gay crossed home plate with both of Eastern’s runs in the second game, as she singled and later scored in the second inning, then tripled and scored in the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie. She scored two runs and earned four RBIs during the double-header. She hit for three-quarters of the cycle in the opening game, with a single, a double and a triple.

The first game was the second longest in ENMU history and was the longest ever played at Zia Softball Field. Eastern’s record for the longest game was a 12-inning contest to start a double-header at Abilene Christian University on Apr. 12, 2002. ACU won the game, 9-8.

Eastern’s 11-inning win over Northwood lasted 3:04. It was the fourth longest game by time in ENMU history. The school record (3:30) was set in a 2-1, 10-inning loss to SE Oklahoma in the championship game of the Lone Star Conference Tournament, on Apr. 28, 2001.

The 50 at bats equalled the total by ENMU in the 12-inning loss at ACU. The 20 left on base tied Cal State-Bakersfield and Le Moyne for the Division II record. Bakersfield stranded runners against UC-Riverside on Mar. 12, 1999 (18 inn.). Le Moyne left 20 on base against Cortland State on Apr. 28, 1992 (21 inn.). The Zias easily broke Eastern’s previous record of 12 left on base.

Northwood took a 5-0 lead in the first game, with the Knights scoring all five runs with two outs in the top of the second inning. The Knights hit five consecutive singles, including an RBI single by Krsytal Lovato and a two-run single by Teena Martin. Latresea McGill completed the scoring by driving in the final two runs with a double to left center.

Eastern answered with a single run in the bottom of the second, then added another run in the fourth. Maegan Rhoten (Jr., LF/RHP, Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X HS) reached on an error in the second and later scored on a ground out by Elizabeth Navarro (Jr., C, San Antonio, TX/Lon Morris JC). In the fourth, Gay doubled with two outs and scored when Amanda Langford (Sr., OF, Mesquite, TX/Lon Morris JC) also doubled.

The Zias tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Dawn Murray (Sr., 3B/1B, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad HS) reached on a fielder’s choice, as NU recorded the first out of the inning, and remained at first when Tracy Jordan (Fr., 2B, Rosamond, CA/Desert HS) fouled out to left field. Navarro and Misty Torrez (Jr., SS, Flagstaff, AZ/Glendale CC) moved Murray to third base with back-to-back singles, then Gay provided her bases-clearing triple.

Both teams scored using the international tie-breaker (runner placed at second to begin each half-inning) in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings. In the 11th, ENMU relief pitcher Lauren King (8-5), who threw the final 6 2/3 innings to earn the win, registered a strikeout and forced two ground outs to keep the Knights from scoring.

Jordan was the runner at second for Eastern in the bottom of the 11th. She moved to third on a wild pitch, before NU reliever Shana Moore walked Navarro. Torrez followed with a bunt single toward third. Gay was hit with the next pitch, forcing in Jordan with the winning run.

Gay was 4 for 6 in the opener, while Murray went 3 for 6, Rhoten went 2 for 3 and Kim Barajas (So., DP/3B, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS) was 2 for 5. The Zias totaled 17 hits. Northwood recorded 12 hits, as Carla Thompson and Brooke Patterson each went 3 for 5.

In the second game, Northwood scored its only run in the top of the second. Manning walked with one out, and eventually reached third after additional walks to Jaimie Mitchell and Thompson. Manning scored when Katie Ross singled down the left field line. Tonie Hutzler (Fr., RHP, Castroville, TX/Medina Valley HS) threw Thompson out at home on a fielder’s choice, then caused Patterson to ground out to short. NU left three runners on base in the inning.

Gay singled and stole second in the third inning. Langford brought her home with a single to center field. In the fifth inning, Gay hit her second triple of the day with one out. Barajas recorded the game-winning RBI when she singled to left center one out later.
Hutzler improved to 2-0. She gave up five hits in 6 2/3 innings, and left the game after a two-out single in the seventh. Rhoten struck out McGill to earn her first save of the season.

Top hitters in the second game for ENMU were Barajas, who went 2 for 2, and Gay, who went 2 for 3. Northwood was led by Patterson, who went 2 for 4.

The Zias will open LSC South action on Saturday, Mar. 22, at Angelo State University. ASU is currently 26-2 and ranked #3 in the NCAA Division II Poll. Game time at ASU is set for 12 noon (MST). The teams are slated to play two games on Sunday, Mar. 23, at 1 p.m. (MST).