The Skyline Newspaper

First baseman John Kinsey at last week’s WTAMU game. Photo by Beth Miller

UT Tyler Takes Double-Header

Nationally-ranked University of Texas at Tyler used stout pitching and defense to claim a 5-1, 9-1 double header sweep of visiting SRSU Friday, Feb. 15.

Saturday’s contest was cancelled due to inclement weather in the Tyler area.

Coach Mike Pallanez’ Lobos, 2-6 for the season, host the University of Texas at Dallas this weekend, starting with a 7 p.m. game Friday, Feb. 22 at Kokernot Field. Saturday’s Feb. 23, doubleheader starts at 1 pm.

UT-Tyler snapped a 1-1 tie with four fifth-inning runs in Friday’s opener. The Patriots took the lead on a one-out homer by Damewood, before back-to-back doubles by Harding and Towns chased Sul Ross starter Jaime Rojo, Alpine. Keith Bakker, Katy, relieved and Towns was cut down stealing, but a walk, wild pitch, passed ball and error scored a third run. Hood’s double plated the fourth marker.

The Lobos were limited to six hits by Campbell and Ziegler. Javier Arrieta, El Paso, singled home Will Montano, El Paso, for Sul Ross’ lone run in the top of the third.

UT-Tyler scored its first run in the last of the frame on a single, infield out and Damewood’s two-out double.

Zach Denson, Fredericksburg, Mike Otero, Houston, Richard Fraire, El Paso, and Monte Piper, Houston, also singled for the Lobos. Rojo gave up seven hits and three earned runs in four and one-third innings. Bakker was touched for two unearned runs in a third of a frame, while Lucas Garza, Hebbronville, gave up two hits and two walks over three and one-third scoreless innings.

Holland pitched a two-hitter and struck out 14 as UT-Tyler, 4-0, coasted in the nightcap. The Patriots scored twice in the second, six in the fourth and one in the sixth while slamming 11 hits off Otero and Harvey Cardiel, Tornillo.

Sul Ross scored its lone run in the fourth on a two-base error, a balk and Fraire’s infield out. James Johnson, Killeen, tripled and Christopher Rodriguez, San Angelo, singled for the Lobos.
A Dark Week for Lobo Sports

Men Lose Last Two Home Games

Weekend losses to Concordia University (84-83) and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (78-58)closed out SRSU’s home court schedule.

Coach Greg Wright’s Lobos, 8-15 overall, 7-12 in the American Southwest Conference West Division, end regular season play on the road. They meet Schreiner University tonight at 5:30 p.m. in Kerrville, then travel to Seguin Saturday, Feb. 23, for a  3:00 p.m. game against Texas Lutheran University. Sul Ross gained Gallego Center wins over the Mountaineers and Bulldogs on Jan. 17 and 19, respectively.

Concordia University erased a 17-point deficit in the final 10 minutes and edged Sul Ross in Thursday’s Feb. 14 action at the Gallego Center.

The Lobos enjoyed a 70-53 lead with 10:17 remaining and a 77-67 margin with 5:49 to play, but missed layups and free throws, coupled with the Tornados’ hot shooting, saw the margins melt.

Mike Mann’s free throws tied the score at 79-79 with 2:10 to play, then Clint Hamilton’s three-pointer at 1:29 put Concordia ahead to stay. Hamilton’s free throw with nine seconds left provided an 84-81 margin, and Art Gonzalez’, El Paso Eastwood, three-point try with three ticks left bounded off the rim. Fili Torres, Clint, scored on the rebound to cap the scoring.

Sul Ross led 42-37 at halftime and maintained the advantage most of the contest. Henry Flores, San Antonio Stevens, came off the bench to tally a game-high 17 points, while Gonzalez netted 15 and Torres added 13 points and 13 rebounds. Jermaine Packer, Midland Lee, Roderick Gunter, Houston Westside, and Moise Morales, Fort Hancock, tallied 10 each.

The Lobos netted 33 of 74 field goal attempts, 45 percent, five of 19 from long range, and 12 of 21 free throw tries. The Lobos won the rebound battle, 45-40. Anthony Miller, Amarillo, contributed six assists and Gonzalez had four steals.

Brad Walker led four Concordia players in double figures with 16 points. The Tornados shot 48 percent from the floor (29-61), six of 17 from long range and hit 20 of 27 free throw attempts.

UMHB, 20-3, 17-2, the men’s conference tournament host, led 25-20 at halftime, then erupted for 53 second-half points to subdue the Lobos.

Tilmon Gaddy tallied a game-high 27 points and Ryan Burgart came off the bench to add 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Crusaders.

Morales’ three-pointer cut the margin to 25-23 and Gunter pulled Sul Ross within 28-25 early in the second half, before Gaddy sparked a 14-0 run with two free throws. He added a three-pointer and a dunk in the surge, while Burgart supplied a pair of hoops.

Gunter’s trey sliced the lead to 61-53 with 2:14 to play, but UMHB converted 13 of 16 free throws down the stretch to close out the win.

Gunter finished withy 20 points, Gonzalez added 16 and Morales contributed 10 points and seven rebounds. The Lobos shot 36 percent from the floor (20-55), 10 of 25 on three-point attempts and hit eight of 15 free throws.
Torres added eight points and six rebounds. Gonzalez and Packer played their final home games for the Lobos.

UMHB converted 43 perc ent of its shots (23-54), 52 percent in the second half. The Crusaders meshed 28 of 40 free throws and held a 41-35 edge on the boards.

Lobo Tracks...Gonzalez leads the team in scoring (13.1 points per game), free throw percentage (.838), assists (76) and steals (24) and is second in  three-point shooting (.421, 64-152)....Torres is second in scoring (12.1), and leads in rebounding (7.7), three-point percentage (.466, 27-58) and blocked shots (29)....Gunter is averaging 11.2 points per game, and Abe Ely, who missed half the season with injury, had a 10.7 average through 12 games.

Women’s Basketball Still Has Hope After Two Losses This Week

SRSU’s women’s basketball team seeks to end the 2007-08 season on a winning note with a pair of weekend road games.

After home-court losses to Concordia University (70-55) and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (64-51) last week, the Lady Lobos close play at Schreiner University Thursday, Feb. 21, 5:30 p.m., and Texas Lutheran University Saturday, Feb. 23, at 1:30 p.m..

Coach David Tandy’s team is 6-16, 5-14 American Southwest Conference West Division action.
Concordia University built a 36-22 halftime advantage and used Kerrie Carter’s 24 points to cruise to a 70-55 win over Sul Ross Thursday at the Gallego Center.

Lanean Harris added 16 points and two other Lady Tornados also reached double figures.

Nitra Woods, Andrews, led a Lady Lobo surge that cut a 19-point deficit to nine, 58-49, with 5:33 left, but Sul Ross could draw no closer. Woods finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, while Isela Garza, El Paso Eastwood, added 12 points and four assists.

Sul Ross shot 44 percent (21-48) for the game, three of 11 from three-point range and 11 of 16 at the foul line. Concordia held a 39-29 rebound advantage and made 45 percent (28-62) of its shots. Whitney Clancy scored 12 and Jennifer Herman 10 for the winners, 14-9, 12-7.

Woods had a second double-double, 22 points and 12 rebounds, in her final Gallego Center contest Saturday. The senior forward helped rally her team from a 23-10 deficit to trail by just two at intermission, 27-25.

Woods added six points in the first three minutes of the second session as the Lady Lobos forged a 33-33 tie. UMHB’s Kallie White answered with seven consecutive points and Mallory MacAdams added a layup for a 42-33 advantage. A subsequent 12-3 run opened up a 54-36 Lady Crusader lead with 7:24 left, as Sul Ross shot just 23 percent for the game, six of 27 in the second half.

Landie Thompson tallied 20 points and White 12 for the winners, who meshed 21 of 53 shots for 40 percent. UMHB netted 17 of 27 free throws and held a 47-40 rebound edge.

Janice Mitchell, Round Rock Stony Point, also playing her final home game, added six points and five assists.
Benton tallied seven and Garza six for the Lady Lobos, who made 24 of 31 free throws, but just 13 of 57 from the floor. Morgan Johnson, Christoval, also played her final home game.
 
Lobo Tracks...Woods leads the team in scoring (12.9 points per game) and rebounds (8.6), while Mitchell is second at 9.8 points per outing with a team-high 81 assists....Johnson averages 8.7 points and Benton 7.8, with 32 blocked shots.

Tennis Struggles to Open Season in NM

Sul Ross State University’s women’s tennis team gained a default victory in its opening match, while the Lobo men dropped a pair of contests Monday, Feb. 18, at Hobbs, N.M.

Coach Kay Whitley’s Lady Lobos gained a default win over College of the Southwest, with just three matches played. New Mexico Military Institute and College of the Southwest won gained 9-0, 8-0 victories over the Lobo men.

Sul Ross will host American Southwest Conference foes Schreiner University March 1 at 10:00 a.m., and Texas Lutheran University March 3 at 2:30 p.m., on the Lobo courts.

Christina Gallardo, El Paso, defeated CSW’s Stephanie Dixon 6-3, 6-2 in women’s action, while Fernanda Busch, Sanderson, lost 6-2, 6-0 to Whitney Kirisian in singles play. In doubles action, Dixon/Kirisian defeated Sandra Torres, Castroville, and Busch 8-1. CSW defaulted the remainder of the matches.

In men’s action against CSW, Nolan Pritchard, Monahans, lost 6-3, 6-0 to Adam Faul at number one singles; John Langerock, Austin, lost 6-0, 6-0 to Taylor Crossland at number two; and Jeff Ivey, El Paso, lost 6-0, 6-0 to Pete Garcia at number three.

John Taylor, Godley, lost 6-0, 6-0 to Josh Baker at number four; Felix Zapien, Alpine, fell 6-0, 6-0 to Jonathan Lira at number five; and James Aldridge, El Paso, dropped 6-1, 6-0 contests to Marco Villalobos at number six.

Faul/Garcia defeated Ivey/Langerock 8-2 at number one doubles and Baker/Crossland won 8-0 against Pritchard/Taylor at number two.

Against NMMI, Prtichard lost to Greg Mitchell; Langerock was defeated by Chris Toli; Ivey lost to Sammy Ramoni; Taylor was defeated by Danny Dominguez; Joseph Torres, Alpine, lost to Roman Fulgenzi; and Zapien was defeated by Mantell Mantell, all by 6-0 scores.

In doubles, Mitchell/Toli defeated Ivey/Langerock, 8-0; Dominguez/Ramoni downed Pritchard/Taylor 8-1; and Fulgenzi/Mantell defeated Zapien/Aldridge 8-0.