The Lobos walked away from Kokernot field with two wins in their first home game for the 2008 season thanks to fierce pitching and strong defense. Two seventh-inning runs brought home a 2-3 victory. Photo by Adam Dreyfus

Lobo Nine Wins Two Out Of Three Against West Texas A&M

Javier Arrieta slammed seven hits to fuel the attack, while strong pitching and defense enabled Sul Ross State University to win two of three from visiting West Texas A&M University in the Lobos’ home-opening baseball series over the weekend.

Sul Ross’ 16-hit attack overcame WTAM’s four homers in Friday’s 8-6 opening win. Two seventh-inning runs gave Coach Mike Pallanez’ team a 3-2 win in Saturday’s first contest.

Brian Schupp poled three homers and drove in seven runs as WTAM salvaged the series finale, 13-4.

Sul Ross, 2-4 for the season, opens American Southwest Conference play at the University of Texas-Tyler Friday, Feb. 15, 6:00 p.m. The Lobos and Patriots will play a doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 16, starting at 11:00 a.m.

Arrieta, James Johnson, Killeen, and Monte Piper, Houston, rapped three hits apiece and combined for six runs batted in as the Lobos won Friday’s opener.

Cody Kemmerling, Hitchcock, worked the first eight and one-third innings, while Eddie Vela, Pecos, gained the save. Sul Ross overcame four WTAM homers, two each from Schupp and Ben Edge, who combined to drive in five runs.

Second-inning RBI singles by Piper and Mike Otero, Houston, offset Schupp’s first-inning round tripper. After Schupp homered again in the third to tie the score, Piper poked a two-run single in the bottom of the frame for a 4-2 Sul Ross edge. Otero drove in another run in the fifth on a fielder’s choice, Piper added an RBI single in the seventh and Johnson and Arrieta had run-scoring hits in the eighth to complete the Lobo scoring.

Kemmerling allowed just seven hits, including Edge’s solo homer in the fourth and a two-run blast in the ninth after a lead-off error. Vela relieved with one out and a runner on first. After a walk, the right hander retired the last two hitters on outfield flies for the save.

Zach Denson, Fredericksburg, and Adrian Zepeda, Clint, had two hits each for Sul Ross. Richard Fraire, El Paso, doubled and Chris Rodriguez, San Angelo, and Otero each singled.

Kemmerling struck out six and did not issue a walk.

Jaime Rojo, Alpine, and Harvey Cardiel, Tornillo, combined on a seven-hit effort as the Lobos rallied in the seventh to claim Saturday’s opener. The Lobos took advantage of WTAM’s control problems to tally the tying and winning runs in their final at-bat.

WTAM used Darby Walker’s triple and Schupp’s infield out for a first-inning run, while Arrieta evened the score with a solo homer in the last of the fourth.

Greg Shanks’ lead-off double in the seventh chased Rojo, and Kent Wright legged out a bunt against reliever Cardiel. Walker bounced into a double play, scoring pinch-runner Jake Parsons with the go-ahead run.

The Lobos countered as Fraire rapped a one-out single, Piper walked, and Will Montano, El Paso, was hit by a pitch with two-outs. A walk to Isaiah Rayos, Pecos, forced in the tying run, and pinch-runner Ryan Kassner, Corpus Christi, scampered home with the winner on a wild pitch.

Arrieta and Fraire had the only two hits off starter Bart Cannon and reliever Tyler Lewis, who took the loss.
Rojo spaced five hits and three walks over six innings, fanning three. Cardiel allowed two singles in the seventh but gained the win.

Schupp bombed a solo homer in the first, two-run shots in the third and sixth and added a two-run single in the ninth as West Texas A&M coasted in the nightcap. The second baseman finished with six hits in six trips, scoring five times.

Eric Henderson struck out 11 batters over six and two-thirds innings, allowing seven hits and three runs. His teammates scored in every inning by the second and seventh, finishing with 20 hits.

Arrieta had three hits, including a two-run homer in the sixth, while Rodriguez singled twice. Piper and Rayos contributed RBI singles.

Otero started and took the loss, with relief from Ritchie Ortega, Clint, Lucas Garza, Hebbronville, Keith Bakker, Katy, and Robby Lopez, Del Rio.

Lady Lobos Unable To Hold Off Cowgirls

American Southwest Conference powers Hardin-Simmons University and McMurry University dominated the action against visiting Sul Ross State University, winning 84-44 and 89-52, respectively, in women’s basketball contests at Abilene last week.

Sul Ross, 6-14, 5-12 in the ASC West Division, concludes their home schedule this weekend against Concordia University Thursday, Feb. 14, 5:30 p.m., and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Saturday, Feb. 16, 1:00 p.m.

Hardin-Simmons used early 16-2 and 16-3 runs to establish a comfortable first-half cushion in Thursday’s win at Abilene.

The Cowgirls erupted from an early 6-3 deficit to lead 35-11 with 5:23 left in the half. After taking a 39-21 margin to the locker room, Hardin-Simmons opened the second half with an 11-2 burst.

Sul Ross shot just 24 percent (11-45) from the floor and was hampered by 27 turnovers. Morgan Johnson, Christoval, led the Lady Lobos with 10 points, while Isela Garza, El Paso Eastwood, added eight points and six rebounds. Janice Mitchell, Round Rock Stony Point, contributed six points and three assists.

Lindsey Newcombe scored 15 points and Ashley Allen 11 for HSU, as all 14 players reached the scoring column. The winners shot 45 percent (30-67), 10 of 20 from three-point range and held a 46-33 rebound edge. McMurry’s defensive pressure forced 27 turnovers - 20 in the first half, in Saturday’s tilt. The winners finished with 21 steals and built a 46-15 halftime margin.

Nitra Woods, Andrews, led the Lady Lobo effort with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Mitchell scored eight points and handed out six assists. Brittany Hatch, Richardson Pearce, scored seven and Garza six. Garza snared five rebounds and Angelique Benton, El Paso Parkland, blocked three shots.

Four McMurry players reached double figures, led by Tara Richardson’s 15 tallies. Thirteen players scored for the winners, 18-3, 15-2.

Men’s Basketball Faces Heartbreak And Triumph In One Weekend

Last- minute free throws lifted McMurry University to a 65-62 win over visiting Sul Ross State University Saturday on Feb. 9 in Abilene.

Two nights earlier, the Lobos launched a last-minute rally to edge host Hardin-Simmons University 68-64 in American Southwest Conference men’s basketball action.

Coach Greg Wright’s team, 8-13 overall, 7-10 in the ASC West Division, play their final home games Thursday, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m., against Concordia University and Saturday, Feb. 16, 3:00 p.m., against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Moises Morales and Art Gonzalez combined for seven points in the final 16 seconds as the Lobos edged Hardin-Simmons Thursday evening.

Morales, Fort Hancock, drilled a tie-breaking three-pointer on an assist from Gonzalez, El Paso Eastwood. Gonzalez then grabbed a missed Cowboy shot with six seconds left, was fouled and sank both free throws for a 66l-61 lead.

After Marcus Smith’s three narrowed the gap to 66-64 with two ticks left, Gonzalez was fouled again. The senior guard netted both tries to lift Sul Ross to its second straight win.

Morales tallied a career-high 25 points to help Sul Ross avenge last week’s 87-82 setback to HSU at the Gallego Center. Gonzalez netted 16 as the pair combined for seven of nine success from three-point range and 14 of 16 at the foul line.

The Lobos trailed 25-19 at halftime, but Morales and Gonzalez combined for 22 of their team’s first 25 points after intermission. Morales’ trey cut the margin to 37-35 with 13:22 to play, then Gonzalez converted a rare four-point play for a 39-37 edge at 12:49. The Lobos trailed just once thereafter, 45-44 on Charlie Pannell’s layup with 9:54 left. Jimmy Martinez, El Paso Andress, quickly answered with a three-pointer and Sul Ross held edges of up to six points until the final minute.

Steven Luckey’s layup tied the score 61-61 with 42 seconds to play, setting the stage for Morales’ and Gonzalez’ late heroics.

Fili Torres, Clint, and Martinez contributed 11 points apiece, while Torres and Henry Flores, San Antonio Stevens, each snared seven rebounds. Torres also blocked a career-high six shots. The Lobos overcame 32 percent shooting in the first half, finishing at a 41 percent clip (19-46), including 11 of 21 outside the arc, eight of 12 in the last 20 minutes. The winners netted 19 of 25 free throws to overcome a 40-30 rebound deficit.

Cowboy post Mardochee Jean scored 17 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked four shots, while Smith scored 14 and Luckey 11. HSU shot 39 percent (24-62) from the floor. And 12 of 16 at the line.

McMurry avenged a setback at the Gallego Center a week earlier when Chris Beck and Alex Robles hit four free throws in the last 24 seconds Saturday.

Jermaine Packer’s, Midland Lee, hoop put the Lobos ahead 62-61 with 1:01 left, but Beck was fouled and converted both chances with 24 seconds to play.  Robles notched two more charity tosses with five ticks remaining for the final three-point edge.

Sul Ross, a 70-57 winner a week earlier, led 35-27 at halftime on 61 percent shooting (14-23). The Lobos cooled to 35 percent (9-26) in the second half, enabling McMurry to rally.

Morales and Roderick Gunter, Houston Westside, led the Lobos with 11 points apiece. Beck scored 15 for the winners, while Curtis Davis and Robles added 11 apiece. Torres added nine points and nine rebounds, while Packer tallied eight points and Gonzalez seven.