Eastern New Mexico Baseball | 03.14.2016 | David Norton
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The Eastern New Mexico baseball team won their first Lone Star Conference contest Monday and split their doubleheader with Tarleton, falling in the first matchup 7-3 before coming back to avoid the series sweep, 4-2.
The Greyhounds moved to 8-14 overall and 1-7 in LSC play while the Texans are now an even 10-10 on the season and 4-4 in the LSC. Daniel Ward was given the loss in the first contest while Scott Klein earned the win in the second for ENMU.
GAME ONE
After three scoreless innings, the Greyhounds found themselves in the driver seat after scoring three runs in the top of the fourth. Two runs by Tarleton in the bottom of the inning followed by five runs in the fifth would give them the final lead of 7-3 and the win.
Ward, who got his fourth start of the season, threw three shutout innings allowing only one hit. After giving up two runs in the fourth inning, disaster would strike as a combination of Texan hitting combined with three Eastern errors would see Ward replaced by Caleb Amos (who was replaced by Jarron Hill that same inning) and Tarleton take the 7-3 lead.
Ward finished allowing only three earned runs and striking out three batters. He is now 0-3 on the season from the mound.
Eastern's three runs would come off a Keenan Dodd double, clearing the bases and giving the Hounds their only lead of the contest. Dodd recorded one hit along with six other Hounds for their team total of seven hits – he was the only Greyhound to drive in any runs.
GAME TWO
James Thomas got his first start of the season in the final game against the Texans and had a very successful outing. In six innings pitched, he allowed only two earned runs and struck out four batters. While still trying to find his first win on the season, currently 0-0, Thomas has the lowest ERA on the team with a 3.12.
Klein came in as relief for Thomas at the beginning of the seventh inning and followed his starter with three outstanding innings. Klein ended up allowing no runs and no hits, striking out three batters in the process.
Much like the first matchup of the day, both teams went scoreless through the first three innings until once again, Eastern scored first with one run in the top of the fourth. Also in similar fashion to their first meeting of the day, the Texans answered back but unfortunately for the Hounds scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead.
After three more scoreless innings, the Hounds finally tied the game up with one run in the eighth inning from a Wesley Jordan solo homerun, his first homerun of the season. This was followed by two runs in the ninth to complete the Hound's comeback and win.
Isaak Bustamante recorded three hits in the contest, leading his team. Mike McNicholl, Dodd and Jordan all had two hits apiece. Chris Padillia and Justin Paul each recorded a lone hit and RBI in the final inning of play.
The Hounds will now head home to prepare for their home stand against Texas A&M-Kingsville. The four game series will start Friday, March 18, with the first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. (MT) and will continue through Sunday, March 20, with the fourth and final contest.
