OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. – After a walk-off win for Oklahoma Christian in game one, 9-8 (9 Inn.), Eastern New Mexico baseball battled back to win game two, 2-1, in a Saturday doubleheader at Dobson Field. The Greyhounds improve to 11-16, and 10-15 in Lone Star Conference action. The Eagles move to 10-21 on the season, with the same standing in conference play.

GAME ONE: OC 9, ENMU 8 (9 INN.)

Following a scoreless first inning, Jack Thompson put the Hounds on the board with one swing of the bat. With Sammy Williamson on second after a double, Thompson crushed a ball over the left field wall to put Eastern ahead 2-0.
 
More runs came in the third frame, to give the Greyhounds some breathing room. With two runners on base, Nick Schifftner pushed a single into right field to send Cooper Hamilton home from second base. Then, Braeton Matthews walked to loaded the bases, and Jorge Colon looked at four straight balls for an RBI walk, 4-0 ENMU. After a pitching change, Camden Matthews punched a single to right center to score two more runs in the inning. In total, three hits, two walks, and an error gave the Hounds a 6-0 lead after three innings.
 
Oklahoma Christian jumped on the board in the fourth frame with a two-out RBI single. However, the Hounds replied with a run in the top of the fifth inning. A single and two walks loaded the bases for C. Matthews with one out. C. Matthews struck a ball to the opposite field to score Thompson from third, 7-1 ENMU.
 
A late rally in the seventh gave Eastern a scare, as a double and a walk brought in two runs, 7-4 ENMU. With one out and the bases loaded, Oklahoma Christian tied the game with a grand slam home run to right center. The Hounds avoided any further damage to leave the score at 7-7 after seven full innings.
 
In the top of the ninth, Thompson reached base on a single and advanced to third after a stolen base and groundout. With two outs and the lead run 90 feet away, a wild pitch allowed Thompson to score and take an 8-7 lead. In the bottom of the inning, a single, hit by pitch, and fielder's choice loaded the bases with no outs. Then, another fielder's choice combined with an error allowed two runs to score as the Eagles walked off with a 9-8 win in nine innings over ENMU.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Greyhounds posted 12 hits from six different batters, scoring eight runs. Thompson led the way at the plate going 3-5 with a homerun, three runs scored, and two RBIs. C.Matthews, Hamilton, Spencer Roach, and Schifftner all finished 2-5 at the dish.
• C. Matthews led the way with three RBIs and Thompson posted two runs batted in, while Colon worked four walks in the game.
• Damian Acosta gets the no decision after going 6.1 innings pitched with six runs allowed with six strikeouts. William McBride is handed the loss, allowing three runs (one earned run) with two strikeouts.
• Oklahoma Christian used six pitchers during the game with Matthew Shira picking up the win after allowing one run in one inning on the mound.

GAME TWO: ENMU 2, OC 1

Both teams were held scoreless until the third inning of play as the Hounds jumped on the board. With two outs and runners on first and second, both Hamilton and Roach pulled a double steal to have two runners in scoring position. The Hounds took advantage of a wild pitch on a strikeout sending Hamilton to the plate, 1-0 ENMU. Next to the plate, Williamson drove a single to left center to score the second run of the game, 2-0 ENMU.
 
The Eagles had an early base runner in the fourth inning, but the Hounds defense turned a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning ahead 2-0. Oklahoma Christian eventually posted a run in the fifth inning. An OC batter reached on a single, then advanced to third on an error to start the inning. With two outs, a double to left brought the runner to the plate slicing the Hounds lead in half, 2-1 ENMU.
 
That would be the last base runner in scoring position for the Eagles, as Ruger Bravo closed the door finishing the complete game effort with the final two outs of the game being punchouts. Eastern took the game by a final score of 2-1.

NOTABLE STATS

• Eastern out hit the Eagles seven to four, with five different batters recording a base hit.
• C. Matthews and Edmonds each posted two hits, while Roach, Williamson, and B. Matthews all having one base knock. Williamson recorded the only RBI for the Hounds.
• Bravo threw all seven innings in the win, giving up one run from four hits, one walk, and nine strikeouts. Bravo faced five batters over the minimum and induced nine groundouts in the game.
• Kyle Higgins tossed 6.2 innings in the loss allowing seven hits and two runs. Andrew Alonzo retried the only batter he faced.

FROM THE SOURCE

"We should have won both games today," said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. "Wasn't able to finish game one cleanly and they came up with a big grand slam at the end to make us pay. Really proud of how we bounced back in game two because it's really easy to stay down after losing a game like that," said Price. "(Ruger) Bravo pitched an absolute gem in game two and showed a lot of toughness. Their knuckle baller kept us off balance, but we found a way to manufacture the two runs needed to win," said Price. "Looking to come back tomorrow and fight for the split".

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Eastern picked up a win against the Eagles for the first time since 1999 (15-9, 2/6/99), and won for the first time in Oklahoma City against Oklahoma Christian. This was the first Lone Star Conference win against the Eagles in program history.
• In game one, Thompson recorded a career best three runs scored, season best three hits in a game, recorded his first career stolen base, and belted his second homerun of the season.
• Colon tied a single game program record with four walks in the contest.
• In game two, Bravo fanned a career best nine batters and tied a career long for an appearance with seven innings.
• During Bravo's last two road games, he has gone the distance twice and allow a combined two runs with 14 strikeouts.
• C. Matthews and Edmonds posted their 10^th and 7^th multi-hit game of the season, respectively, after the second game.
• Roach recorded hits in both games and takes his hitting streak to 15 straight games.
• Eastern look to end the series on a high note in the series finale on Sunday, Mar. 27. First pitch from Dobson field is expected to start at 12 pm (MST).