PORTALES, N.M. - The Eastern New Mexico University baseball team opens the 2021 season at St. Edward's University this weekend for a three-game series. The Greyhounds will face the Hilltoppers in a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 5 starting at 10 a.m. and then the two teams will clash again on Saturday at 12 p.m. 

SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
St. Edward's opens the 2021 season ranked seventh in the Lone Star Conference baseball preseason poll. Last season, the Hilltoppers went 11-11 before the season was paused and eventually canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last time St. Edward's competed was on March 8, 2020 and the team notched a 7-4 victory over Angelo State. 

The Hilltoppers return several key offensive players from last season including, Blake Houlb, Dante Gutierrez, and Dylan Mackin. Houlb finsihed the season with a .309 batting average to go with 18 runs, 25 hits,  and nine RBI. Gutierrez contributed 12 RBI and six runs along with a .239 batting average. 

Houlb was also a valuable member of the pitching staff with a 2-3 record and a 3.33 ERA.  Other important returners to the pitching rotation are Jack Granack, AG Ayala, and Garret Phillips.

REVAMPED LINEUP
Eastern returns 20 players from the 2020 squad with the addition of 13 transfers and six freshmen who will be joining the Greyhounds this spring. Amongst the fresh faces the Hounds boast several new coaching staff members in graduate assistant coaches Ryan Anderson and Michael Eversole.

SAME HOUNDS, NEW PLACES
Amongst the key returners are Trevor Moses and Jude Perea. Moses finished the shortened 2020 season leading the team in batting average (.319), hits (22), and RBIs (8). Perea was also an offensive leader, finishing the year with a .271 batting average and eight RBI. The team will also look to Daniel Hunt for firepower as he was second on the team in hits (18) and third in runs (9). 

On the mound, the Greyhounds return Tyler Cobb, who was second on the team in ERA (4.91). Another player ENMU will look to is Josh Lewis, who finished the year second in strikeouts with 20.