PORTALES, N.M. – The Eastern New Mexico University baseball team opens up the 2017 home campaign on Tuesday against Wayland Baptist. First pitch against the Pioneers is slated for 7 p.m.
 
The Greyhounds enter the matchup with a 9-1 record on the season. It marks the best start since the 2006 team opened the year 10-1. A win on Tuesday would match the win total by ENMU last season.
 
Offensively, the Greyhounds boast one of the best offenses in the country, hitting .366 on the year and averaging 12.7 runs/game. The .366 clip is the second highest in the Lone Star Conference, along with the 127 runs and 114 RBI.
 
Infielder Alex DeLaCruz has been on a tear to open the year, hitting at .578 with six doubles, a triple, four home runs and 20 RBI. The junior leads the conference in at-bats, runs, hits, doubles and long balls. Outfielder Michael McNicholl is also hitting above .500 with six doubles, two home runs and an LSC leading 21 RBI.
 
On the mound, Eastern has a 3.70 ERA with 96 strikeouts to just 37 walks on the season. Keenan Dodd is slated to get the start against the Pioneers on Tuesday. The right-hander leads the team with a 2-0 record over 9.0 innings with 16 punch-outs while yielding one walk. He is holding opponents to just a .176 average on the year and was named the LSC Pitcher of the Week for his performance against Lane College earlier this season.
 
Following the home game, the Greyhounds hit the road once again for a matchup with LeMoyne-Owen in Memphis, Tenn. First pitch with the Magicians is slated for noon. For all the latest news on ENMU athletics, follow @ENMUBaseball and @ENMUAthletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.