Eastern New Mexico Baseball | 04.15.2016 | David Norton | Photo by Claude Vigil
PORTALES, N.M. — Falling just one run short of a dramatic comeback, the Eastern New Mexico baseball team dropped their series opener against Tarleton State Friday 6-5, despite some late game heroics by Wesley Jordan and team.
The Texans (16-21, 10-14 LSC) struck first to open the game, scoring two runs in both the first and second innings, adding one more in the top of the third. The Greyhounds (10-28, 3-21 LSC) would add a run of their own in the third off a Mike McNicholl single down the leftfield line.
"We had some guys that came in big for us all night, especially pinch hitting," said Greyhound head coach David Gomez. "It takes guts to do something like that."
Both teams would hit a dry spell from the plate for the next three innings until the Texans scored their sixth and final run in the top of the seventh. Never to be outdone, the Greyhounds came back scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, setting the stage for their near comeback.
Holding the Texans scoreless in the ninth, Chris Miranda-Carr left it up to his offense to bring the game back and they gave it a great chance. Pinch hitting, Chris Padilla recorded a leadoff single, followed by another McNicholl hit to get two runners on. A Tregra Williams single loaded the bases to allow Jordan a chance at some late game heroics.
And he delivered on that chance, driving in two runs off one swing of the bat – singling to right field. Now down by only one run, the Greyhounds had the momentum going their way but unfortunately with two outs on the board, the final at bat would strike out swinging ending the contest.
McNicholl led the game with two hits – the only Greyhound with multiple hits – while Jordan led the team with his two RBIs. James Thomas ended up with the loss, giving up only one earned run and striking out two batters in one inning of work.
"I have a lot of respect for Tarleton State, but I feel like with our lineup we can get some serious hitting out of it. We just have to work on keeping guys off the base and we should be alright," said Gomez.
In relief, ENMU saw a strong outing from Jarron Hill despite giving up four runs. In 5.1 innings from the mound, Hill struck out an Eastern game-high four batters. Miranda-Carr would finish out the contest, throwing 2.2 innings from the rubber while allowing only three hits, no runs and striking out one batter.
Gomez said, "Were very proud of Jarron, being a Texico, New Mexico kid, he came in and got it done. A sophomore who doesn't have a lot of experience has been doing really well for us this year. Both our guys out of the pen did really well tonight."
The Hounds will conclude their series Saturday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. (MT).
