PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico baseball delivered 15 runs in its opening game one of a Saturday doubleheader, 15-6, over University of Arkansas-Fort Smith at Greyhound Baseball Field. However, the Lions claimed game two, 5-3, over the Hounds. The Greyhounds now post a 10-13 record, along with a 9-12 record in LSC play. UAFS have an overall record of 8-15, with the same record in conference play.

GAME ONE: ENMU 15, UAFS 6

The Lions scored a quick run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but the Hounds replied in the next half inning. The Hounds loaded the bases after a Camden Matthews single and walks from Dax Edmonds and Cooper Hamilton. Spencer Roach took the first pitch of the at bat up the middle to take a 2-1 lead. Nick Schifftner then doubled to center field to score Hamilton from second, holding a 3-1 advantage after the first inning.
 
However, the Lions plated five runs in the second inning from five hits taking a 6-3 lead. Eastern pulled one back in the bottom of the inning. Hamilton tripled to deep right field sending the runner on second home, 6-4 UAFS. The Hounds broke open the game in the third inning. Schifftner lifted the Hounds bats with a home run over the left field fence in the first pitch of the at bat, 6-5 ENMU. After hits from Andres Quintana and Jack Thompson, C. Matthews singled to right field to score Qunitana to tie the game. On the C. Matthews single, the ball escaped the glove of the right fielder allowing Thompson and C. Matthews to come around to score and take an 8-6 lead.
 
Eastern came back for more runs in the fifth frame. With the bases loaded and two outs, Schifftner hit a line drive to center field scoring two runs, and a third came around on the play after a Lions error. The Schifftner single pushed the scoreboard to 11-6 over the Lions. The Hounds scored its final runs of the game in the sixth inning.
 
With two runners on base and two outs, Edmonds singled to center plating one run and leaving runners on first and third for Hamilton. With a 1-1 count, Hamilton ripped a ball to right field that took an awkward hop over the right fielder. The ball rolled to the fence as Hamilton rounded third for an inside the park three-run home run, 15-6 ENMU. The Greyhounds recorded the final three outs to take a 15-6 win over the Lions.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Hounds posted 14 hits from eight different batters, scoring 15 runs with 12 RBIs.
• Schifftner finished a triple short of the cycle, going 4-4 along with four RBIs. Hamilton provided two hits with four RBIs and two walks.
• Edmonds and C. Matthews each had two hits, while Roach delivered two RBIs and C. Matthews scored four times.
• Dalton Thatcher picks up his second win on the season from the bullpen. Thatcher allowed just three hits with six strikeouts and at one point had retired nine straight batters. Ruger Bravo gets the no decision going 1.2 innings allowing six runs (four earned runs) from six hits.
• Brayden Johnson is handed the loss, surrendering eight runs off of ten hits in 2.2 innings of work.

FROM THE SOURCE

"The bats came out hot again in game one today and really kept the pressure on their defense," said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. "(Ruger) Bravo had a rocky start but (Dalton) Thatcher was lights out from the pen and stopped them in their tracks as our bats continued to put up runs to put them away," said Price.

GAME TWO: UAFS 5, ENMU 3

Both pitchers were holding their own in the first three innings of the contest. Each pitcher allowed just one hit in the first three innings as neither team could get the bats going. However, the Lions ended the scoreless game in the fourth inning after a walk put a runner on the bases. A pass ball allowed an RBI single to bring home the first run of the contest, 1-0 UAFS.
 
The Hounds were unable to respond in the following inning, and the next runs came across in the top of the sixth. With a runner on first, a double down the left field line scored the second run for the Lions. With two outs and a runner on third, another double to left field brought the score to 3-0, and a single plated a fourth run of the game for UAFS.
 
The Lions picked up an insurance run and looked to close out the bottom of the seventh inning, 5-0 UAFS. The Hounds put runners on base after singles from Roach and Schifftner. With two outs, Thompson worked a tough at bat and launched a ball over the left field fence to change the score to 5-3 UAFS. However, the next batter grounded out and sealed the win for the Lions 5-3 over ENMU.

NOTABLE STATS

• ENMU were held to five hits scoring three runs with three RBIs.
• Thompson's homerun was responsible for all three runs and three RBIs. Thompson and Roach finished with two hits, while Schifftner picked up the other base knock.
• Damian Acosta is handed the loss in 5.2 innings pitched, allowing four runs from six hits in the contest. Acosta collected nine strikeouts during the game. Javier Luna tossed 1.1 innings allowing one run from two hits.
• Logan Grant collects the complete game victory, allowing three runs in the final inning and just five hits overall. Grant finished with eight strikeouts and no walks.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Game two we ran into a good arm who kept us off balance," said Price. "We got a little timid at the plate but still managed to find barrels and they just didn't fall for us. We showed a lot of fight in the last inning, but it wasn't enough to walk away with the win," said Price. "I feel good about tomorrow as we have a good opportunity to take the series".

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• In game one, C. Matthews reached on base three times via hit by pitch. The mark is a single game record this season and ties a program record. C. Matthews also tied a career best and single game high for runs scored with four.
• Edmonds scored a season's best three times, Hamilton hit personal marks in RBIs (four) and runs scored (three), and Schifftner tied a career best four hits and set a season best four RBIs.
• Scifftner, Hamliton, and Thompson each hit their first career homer.
• The Greyhounds tied a season best 15 runs scored in game one, and set a season record for RBIs with 12.
• Acosta tied a program record for looking strikeouts with six. Cody Pope was the last ENMU pitcher to do so in 2015.
• The Hounds shift the all-time series to 5-3 in favor of the Lions. Game two win for the Lions was their first victory in Portales.
• Eastern conclude the series tomorrow afternoon, Sunday, Mar. 20. The game is scheduled for nine innings, as first pitch is set for 1 pm.