Saturday, February 07, 2015
PORTALES, N.M. — The Eastern New Mexico University baseball (2-0) team opened the season on a high note Saturday, winning both games of a double header against Adams State University in what turned out to be a runaway affair.
In their first meeting of the day, the Greyhound's bats exploded, going for a combined 20 hits, 15 RBIs and scoring 17 runs, in what turned out to be a 17-5 victory over the grizzlies. Eastern had a combined 11 extra base hits including four home runs.
The power hitting lineup of the Greyhounds took advantage of Adams State's struggling pitching, having seven players with multiple hits.
Blake Cooper (Sr., Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach Wilson HS / Golden West College) ended the contest with two hits and three RBIs off a triple and a homer, while
Justin Paul (Jr., Papillion, Neb. / Highland CC) recorded three hits for a game-high four RBIs off three singles and one home run.
Cody Pope (Sr., Kingman, Ariz. / Williston State College) earned the win in five innings of work from the mound, giving up no earned runs on five hits and a game-high 10 strikeouts.
James Gray relieved Pope at the top of the sixth inning, finishing off Adams State lineup with eight strikeouts of his own.
The second game of the double header was slightly closer, with Eastern managing to stave off a late run by the Grizzlies to take the game 8-3.
Russell Edwards (Sr., Oceanside, Calif. / Palomar College) was credited with the win, going four innings while striking out six batters and only giving up one earned run.
The Grizzlies loaded the bases late in the seventh inning of the game after drawing two walks and recording a base hit. But with two outs,
Jarron Hill (Fr., Texico, N.M./ Texico HS) earned the save by getting retiring Adams State's last batter on a fly ball the right field.
Chris Sanders (Sr., Murrieta, Calif. / Palomar College) led Eastern in the second game with three RBIs off of two hits. The grizzlies combined for a total of 14 hits on the day, with five doubles and six RBIs.
The two teams will face off one last time Sunday, Feb. 8, at 12:00 p.m. (MST) before Adams State returns home.
Following the series, Eastern will head Las Vegas, N.M., to take start a three game series against New Mexico Highlands University Feb. 13-15.
