FORT SMITH, Ark. – Eastern New Mexico baseball fell by final scores of 2-1 and 7-3 on Saturday afternoon against Arkansas-Fort Smith.

The Hounds had the game-tying run on second base in the top half of the seventh inning in game number one, but were unable to come through with two outs to turn the decision for starter Ethan Coombes, who produced yet another quality start for the Hounds. The sophomore pitched all six innings, surrendering just four hits in which Arkansas-Fort Smith turned into two runs.

The Hounds once again made things interesting in game number two in the late innings, clawing back from a 4-1 deficit through four innings to cut the lead to just two runs entering the bottom half of the sixth. Arkansas-Fort Smith was able to manufacture three runs in that frame to extend the lead back out to 7-2 before the Hounds posted a run in the top of the seventh to bring the score to a 7-3 final.

Arkansas-Fort Smith took a 2-0 lead into the top of the seventh on an afternoon in which Coombes continued to prove effective on the mound. Senior Ryan Anderson got the comeback attempt started with a single up the middle with one out to allow the tying run to step to the plate.

Sophomore Alex Kuhn came on to pinch run for Anderson and advanced over to second thanks to a Jude Perea single on the following at bat. Freshman Camden Matthews provided his biggest hit of his young Greyhound career a batter later as his two-out single up the middle sent Kuhn home from second, narrowing the deficit to just 2-1.

The Hounds were unable to get Perea home from second and let a quality start from Coombes slide, as the Roswell, N.M. native struck out five over his six innings of work. Senior Tristan Bowden provided the fourth hit for the Hounds in game one, a single in the top half of the third.

The Eastern New Mexico offense showed life in the second game of the afternoon as the Hounds totaled 12 hits as a squad, including two-hit performances from both Perea and Bowden. Juniors Daniel Hunt and Trevor Moses also went 2-for-4 on the afternoon alongside the combination of Perea and Bowden.
Catcher Mario Armendariz put the first runs on the board in game number two for either team with a solo homer in the top half of the second inning. The Lions quickly responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to build a lead that ultimately couldn't be negated by the Hounds.

Junior Josh Lewis got the start for the Hounds in game number two and went four innings before junior Liam Sabiston took the mound for the final two frames. Lewis gave up four earned runs on six hits.

Eastern New Mexico will look to continue that offensive prowess they found in the game number two in tomorrow's series finale in Fort Smith, Ark. First pitch is scheduled for a noon local time.