Saturday, February 14, 2015

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Despite heroic comeback efforts in two games, the Eastern New Mexico University baseball team (3-3) dropped both games of a doubleheader against New Mexico Highlands University Saturday, moving to .500 on the season and 1-2 in the four game series.

From the plate the Greyhounds showed exceptional talents, recording 28 hits in the two games and 20 RBIs.  From the mound, Eastern recorded nine strikeouts and used nine different pitchers between the two games.

The Greyhounds only earned one error during the doubleheader, showing discipline and skill on the defensive side of the diamond once again. 

Eastern will finish up their series with the Cowboys Sunday and then return home to Portales, N.M., to host University of the Southwest before heading to Lubbock, Texas, next weekend for a three game series with Lubbock Christian University.
 
GAME 1

Falling behind 10-5 by the top of the fifth inning, Eastern managed to tie the game at 10 apiece by the bottom of the sixth inning.  Two runs by the Cowboys late would seal the Greyhounds fate however, putting New Mexico Highlands up 12-11 to end the game.

The Greyhounds out hit their opponents 18-12, nine of which were extra base hits, but just couldn't string enough of those hits together. 

Daniel Ward (So., Cleveland, Ohio / Clovis CC) and Keenan Dodd (Fr., Albuquerque, N.M. / Hope Christian Academy) each had homeruns in the game.  Dodd ended the game going 3-for-4 from the plate, recording a team-high four RBIs and two runs. 

Eastern used five pitchers in the game, none putting in more than 1.2 innings of work.  Jonathan Joy (So., Las Cruces, N.M. / Las Cruces HS) ended up with the loss, despite only giving up one hit and one earned run in 1.1 innings pitched.  The pitching staff combined for four strikeouts in the game. 

GAME 2

Immediately jumping ahead 2-0 after their first at bat, the Greyhounds saw it their lead quickly disappear as New Mexico Highlands put up four runs in the each of the first three innings. 

Staring a 10 run deficit in the face, Eastern fought back and scored a season-high seven runs in the fifth inning, bringing the Cowboys lead to only three.  It wasn't to be however, as New Mexico Highlands would add three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to push their lead to six.  Following two empty innings for the Greyhounds, Eastern would lose 17-11, falling behind 2-1 in the series.

The Greyhounds struggled from the mound for the second time during the day, putting four pitchers into the game with only one throwing more than 1.2 innings.  Zach Shank (Fr., Gallup, N.M. / Oklahoma Baptist University) pitched two full innings, giving up only two hits, no runs, and striking out two hitters.  James Gray (Sr., St. Petersburg, Fla. / East Carolina University) was given the loss.