AUSTIN, Texas – The Eastern New Mexico baseball team opened the 2022 season at St. Edward's University on Saturday for a conference doubleheader. The Greyhounds split the day, earning a 4-3 win in game one before falling 5-4 in the second contest.
 

GAME ONE: ENMU 4, SEU 3 (7 INN.)

The Greyhounds opened scoring in the first game of the day with three runs in the third inning.

Jack Thompson got things started with a single to left field before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Jorge Colon. Thompson went on to score after Braeton Matthews sent a single to right field.

Dax Edmonds sent B. Matthews home after recording his first hit as a Greyhound. Edmonds would round home on a double from Sammy Williamson to give the Hounds a 3-0 advantage.

The Hilltoppers responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by doubles from Cullen Ainsworth and Stacey Bailey, to tie the game up.

Eastern regained the 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning. Nyles Duren made his way to first on an error and then second after a wild pitch. Duren managed to steal third before scoring on a double from Thompson.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Hilltoppers were down to their last out with runners on first and second. Bailey hit a long fly ball to right field, but Cooper Hamilton came up with the catch to get the final out and secure the 4-3 victory for the Hounds.
 

NOTABLE STATS

• Thompson led the way for the Greyhounds, going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a double. B. Matthews also finished the game 2-for-3 with an RBI.
• Spencer Roach and Williamson each hit a double in the contest.
• Damian Acosta pitched the complete game to earn the first win of the season on the mound. He allowed three runs on four hits while striking out nine batters.
• Wesley Gafford was credited with the loss for the Hilltoppers.

FROM THE SOURCE

"In game one, we executed well moving runners and had a few guys step up in scoring opportunities which was great to see," said head coach Riley Price. "Acosta wasn't at his best today but found a way to keep us in it and give us win number one. You never want to throw your starter for that many pitches early in the year, but he is in prime shape and refused to not go the distance for us."
 

GAME TWO: SEU 5, ENMU 4

St. Edward's jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a homer from Davis Drewek.

The Hounds quickly tied the game up 1-1 in their next at bat though. Hamilton started things off with a bunt single before stealing second. Jude Perea moved Hamilton to third on a sacrifice bunt. Hamilton then made it home on a fly out to center from Edmonds.

In the bottom of the third, the Hilltoppers saw another run score to regain the 2-1 advantage.

SEU scored three runs on four hits in the sixth to stretch the lead out to 5-1, highlighted by an RBI double from Cyrus Twaddle.

The Hounds chipped away at that lead, with one run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to make it a one run game.

St. Edward's managed to keep Eastern from scoring in the ninth though to secure the close 5-4 win.
 

NOTABLE STATS

• Hamilton finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base.
• Duren was a perfect 1-for-1 with a two-RBI double.
• Dalton Thatcher earned the start and loss on the hill for the Hounds. He allowed nine hits and four runs while striking out four batters in 5.2 innings of work. Tommy Perez finished out the game and walked two batters in 2.1 innings.
• Jack Granack earned the win for the Hilltoppers with two hits, one run allowed, and four strikeouts in six innings.

FROM THE SOURCE

"In game two, we could have competed at the plate and executed better overall but we didn't take advantage of a few opportunities we should have," said Price. "We have to continue to be tougher with two strikes and use the entire field offensively. We showed some fight towards the end but had a few hard barrels that didn't fall for us. Thatcher could have had a cleaner start but both him and Perez gave us a solid chance to win. We are excited to see how we bounce back tomorrow after a long day."

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Both Eastern and St. Edward's are 1-1 on the season overall and in conference play.
• The Hilltoppers hold a 6-1 advantage in the overall series between the two programs.
• ENMU and SEU will meet again on Sunday, February 6 for another doubleheader starting at 10 a.m.