ABILENE, Texas – The Eastern New Mexico University baseball team was unable to survive a pair of multi-run home runs in a 6-5 loss at Hardin-Simmons. The Greyhounds (15-5) struck for four early runs, but the Cowboys responded with a pair of big innings to take the lead for good.
 
Shortstop Endy Villalona continued his hot hitting at the plate from last weekend, going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Nick DeArmond and Lane Saunders combined to shut out the Cowboys over the final five innings, allowing just two baserunners over that stretch.
 
The Greyhounds hung a four-spot on the Cowboys in the top of the second. Andrew Stubbs opened the frame with a single to center before Blake Frye worked a six-pitch walk to move Stubbs into scoring position. With one out, Gabriel Vargas deposited an RBI single into left to score Stubbs and break the scoring seal. After Alex DeLaCruz walked to load the bases, Endy Villalona hit a rope to the left-center alley to score a pair. Garlind Webster drew a nine-pitch walk with the bases juiced to cap the scoring in the frame.
 
Hardin-Simmons utilized the long ball in each the second and third innings to claim a 6-4 lead. Cody Berryman hit a two-run shot in the second and Colton Parker hit a three-run blast in the third.
 
The Green and Silver would get a run back in the top of the sixth to pull within one. DeLaCruz laced a double into the left field corner to lead off the inning. Michael McNicholl followed with a single into left when Webster drove home his second run of the afternoon on a groundout back to the pitcher.
 
In each the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, Eastern put the tying run on base and twice advanced the runner into scoring position, but was unable to bring the runner around to knot the game up.
 
The Greyhounds return to the diamond tomorrow for a double-header against Hardin-Simmons. First pitch is slated for noon in Abilene. For all the latest news on ENMU athletics, follow @ENMUBaseball and @ENMUAthletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.