ENMU Opens LSC South Schedule with
Two Losses at Angleo State

SAN ANGELO, TX– Angelo State University, ranked #3 in NCAA Division II, edged Eastern New Mexico University in both games of a double-header on Saturday, Mar. 22, as the Rambelles and the Zias opened Lone Star Conference South Division play. The Rambelles won 4-1 and 4-2 to improve to 28-2 on the season, 2-0 in the LSC South. ENMU dropped to 20-15 overall and to 0-2 in the LSC South.

In the opener, Eastern outhit Angelo State, 8-4, but the Zias committed two errors during ASU’s two-run fifth inning. ASU pitcher Claudia Lopez struck out nine batters, and although the Zias benefited from four walks, ENMU left 11 runners stranded on base.

The Rambelles scored the game’s first two runs in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Jamie McGalliard walked and Andrea Payan tripled. Payan tallied the second run when Mandee Gamboa grounded out to shortstop for the second out.

Eastern countered with a solo homer to left field by Nikki Gay (Fr., CF, Schertz, TX/Samuel Clemens HS) to start the third inning. Amanda Langford (Sr., OF, Mesquite, TX/Lon Morris JC) followed with a single, but was later thrown out attempting to steal. Kim Barajas (So., DP/3B, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS) walked and Bobbi Richardson (So., DP, Kerrville, TX/Tivy HS) singled during the inning, but the Zias left two runners on base.

The score remained 2-1 until the Rambelles plated two runs in the fifth. Gamboa walked with one out. Stephanie Kirkpatrick ran for Gamboa and stole second base. After Sarah Woodman grounded out to third, Alexis Wing singled, putting runners at the corners. Two errors on an attempted steal allowed Kirkpatrick and Wing to cross the plate.

Vicki Davis (Sr., OF, Gilbert, AZ/Glendale CC) doubled for Eastern with two outs in the sixth inning, but was unable to score. The Zias had three runners in the seventh, but Barajas and Langford were left on base after Lopez walked Maegan Rhoten (Jr., LF/RHP, Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X HS), then struck out Dawn Murray (Sr., 1B/P, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad HS).

Gay and Langford each went 2 for 4 for Eastern. Barajas was 2 for 2. Lauren King (Jr., RHP, La Mirada, CA/La Serna HS) suffered the pitching loss to fall to 8-6 for the Zias, but struck out four batters and allowed only four hits. Wing went 2 for 3 with a run scored to lead Angelo State on offense, while Payan was 2 for 2 with a run and an RBI.

In the second game, all four of ASU’s runs were scored in the third inning. Stacy Broman singled and Wing walked to start the stanza. Michelle Hofmann drove in the first run with a double to left field. Wing and Hofmann scored the next two runs when Faulkner reached base on an error. The final run was scored by Faulkner on an infield single by Payan.

The Zias recorded both of their runs in the top of the sixth. Jessica Cook (Sr., OF, San Antonio, TX/Lon Morris JC) singled, then advanced to second on a ground out by Misty Torrez (Jr., SS, Flagstaff, AZ/Glendale CC). Cook reached home plate when Gay tripled to right field. Langford got on base on an infield error, and Barajas connected for an infield hit, but Gay was unable to score on either play.

Gay tallied the second run when Katie McDermott (Fr., C/3B, Albuquerque, NM/Rio Rancho HS) grounded out to shortstop for the second out. Langford and McDermott were left on base after ASU pitcher Megan Clingman forced Rhoten to pop up.

The Zias sent just three batters to the plate in the seventh inning, as Clingman closed out the win. She struck out three batters, limited ENMU to only four hits, and did not give up a base on balls. Rhoten, who threw a complete game with 10 strikeouts for ENMU, fell to 7-6 on the season. She held ASU to five hits.

Hofmann was the only player for either team with more than one hit in the second game. She was 2 for 3 with a run scored and one RBI. Eastern’s four hits were supplied by Gay, Barajas, Rhoten and Cook. Gay blasted the only triple of the game, while Rhoten, Wing and Hofmann each achieved one double.

The Zias and the Rambelles are scheduled to play another LSC South double-header on Sunday, Mar. 23. Game time for the first contest is set for 1 p.m. (MST).