STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Eastern New Mexico baseball team had a tough finish to the four game series as Tarleton State scored five late runs, rallying to beat the Hounds on a walk-off single in extra innings 9-8 on Sunday afternoon.
The Greyhounds (8-8) were able to get off to a strong start as Eastern batted around in the top of the first to take an early 4-0 edge. Malcolm Smith and Malcolm Boehm led off the inning with a walk and a single to left as Smith scored after Joseph Zubia grounded into a double play.
The Hounds later loaded the bases on a Eurick Perez triple and a pair of walks for Nicholas Ankerman and Luidinson Hidalgo, as Perez reached home on a wild pitch to make it a two-run lead. Eastern was able to get two more when Joel Paulino drew a walk followed by Blake Frye and Paul Tapia each getting hit-by-pitches with the bases loaded to extend the advantage to four.
The Texans (8-14) were quick to answer as they were able to get three back in the bottom of the inning to close the gap to 4-3.
Eastern was able to load the bases in the second inning once again as Zubia came across to score after Hidalgo was hit by a pitch to bring the lead back to two at 5-3.
The Greyhounds extended their advantage to three in the third after Zubia drove in Tapia with a single up the middle and would later come around to score on an error to make it 7-3.
ENMU was able to get a four-run lead back in the top of the fifth when Perez hit an RBI sac fly to right, scoring Zubia from third.
The Hounds ran into trouble in the seventh inning as TSU's Jake Spence drove a deep ball over the right field fence to knock in three runs, narrowing the Eastern edge to 8-7.
Eastern had the opportunity to put the game away in the bottom of the ninth, but TSU managed to push the game-tying run across to send the game into extra innings.
The Greyhounds were able to able to put together a threat in the top of the 10th as Ankerman drew a walk and Miles Hilton was hit by a pitch, but the Texans were able to prevent the go-ahead run from crossing home plate.
In the bottom of the 10th, Tarleton State was able to get the leadoff hitter aboard with a single and after the Texans were able to get the runner to third with two outs, Texans center fielder Jacob Walker was able to push the walk-off hit through the right side.
Eastern recorded their eight runs on seven hits to go with a pair of errors while Tarleton State finished with nine runs on 10 hits and also committed two errors.
Perez led the ENMU bats after going 3-for-4 from the plate with an RBI and a run scored with a double and a triple. Zubia tallied a pair of runs after going 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and two stolen bases.
Ankerman tied an ENMU record as he reached base five times via the walk, matching Mark Beeman's program record set on Apr. 8, 1994 against West Texas.
Liam Sabiston took the loss for ENMU coming out of the pen, giving up one earned run on two hits.
The Greyhounds will return home next week for another four game non-conference series against Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Hounds will open the slate on Friday night with a 7 p.m. first pitch at Greyhound Field.
