Zias Win 5-2 and Lose 5-2 on Second Day to Split Four-Game Series at TAMU-Kingsville
ENMU Falls Behind Angelo State in Race for Final LSC Tournament Berth

Box Score - Game 3 - ENMU 5, TAMUK 2
Box Score - Game 4 - TAMUK 5, ENMU 2

KINGSVILLE, TEXAS — Eastern New Mexico University and Texas A&M University-
Kingsviille, each recorded a 5-2 win on Saturday, April 15 at Hubert Field, as the teams split a Lone Star Conference double-header. ENMU won the first game, then TAMUK took the second game. The teams also split a double-header on Friday, with ENMU winning the opener 6-0 and TAMU-Kingsville taking the nightcap, 6-3.

The split of the four-game series left the Zias at 31-19 overall and 11-9 in the LSC South. TAMUK came out of the weekend with a 21-26 overall record, including 8-9 in the LSC South.

ENMU dropped one game out of third place in the race for three LSC Tournament berths from the South Division. The Zias, who close out the regular season at home against Angelo State University on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22, will have to win three of four games against the Rambelles to finish in third place in the LSC South. ASU currently holds third place at 11-7. The Rambelles are 29-22 overall.

Rosemary Moreno (Sr., RHP, Midland, TX/Midland College) pitched two complete games on Saturday, recording her 18th win in the opener and losing for just the seventh time in the second game. In the victory, Moreno gave up ten hits, but allowed only two earned runs, as she stranded 10 Javelinas on base.

A five-run second inning provided Moreno with more than enough support. After RBIs by Courtney McClasky (Sr., DH/C, Keller, TX/Morningside College) and Kristina Goodman (Jr., CF, Artesia, NM/Vernon College), Jessica Nocas (Sr., SS, Riverside, CA/Midland College) capped off the scoring with a bases-clearing three-RBI double.

Moreno got herself into a jam in the first inning of the second game, as TAMUK benefited from two hits and a hit batsmen. With the help of solid defense from the Zias, Moreno escaped unscathed, leaving the bases juiced.

Eastern took advantage of a Kingsville throwing error in the third, as Goodman scored for a 1-0 advantage. The Javelinas tied the score in the bottom of the inning, on an RBI double by Joanna Dorado. Kingsville claimed the lead for good in the fourth, taking advantage of three hits and two errors to score three times, with two runs unearned. TAMUK increased the lead to 5-1 with an unearned run in the sixth, as a throwing error allowed Sally Lozano to score.

ENMU attempted to come back in the seventh inning, after Goodman led off with a triple. Unfortunately, Goodman was called out for leaving third base early, while tagging up on a fly ball to right field by Tracy Jordan (Sr., 2B, Rosamond, CA/Desert HS). With two outs, Nocas walked and Elizabeth Whipkey (So., 1B, Orange, CA/Villa Park HS) drove her to the plate with a double down the left field to finish the scoring.

Eastern’s .358 team batting average is the best in the LSC, led by Kelsey Kubik (Jr., RF, Tucson, AZ/Pima College) with a .441 average and a team-leading 47 RBIs. Nocas is managing a .411 average at the plate and ranks second on the team with 46 RBIs and 11 home runs. Tina Whitt (Sr., C/3B, Riverside, CA/Midland College) leads the LSC with 12 homers, is batting .370 and is tied with Nocas with a team-high 15 doubles. Jordan has been solid at the place, with a .389 success rate at the plate. Goodman has recorded a .386 batting average and a team-high 73 hits.

The critical LSC South series between ENMU and Angelo State will get underway on Friday, April 21 with double-header at 12 p.m. MDT. The series will conclude with another double-header on Saturday, April 22, also starting at 12 p.m. MDT.