PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Baseball opened its final home series of the season with a walk-off win in the 10^th inning, 11-10, against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Friday evening. The Hounds improve to 16-29 on the season, and 15-28 in conference play. The Javelinas slip to 28-15 on the season, along with a 26-15 LSC record.
 
The Greyhounds kicked off the scoring in the first frame after Nick Schifftner brought two runs home on a double down the left field line. Dax Edmonds singled and Cooper Hamilton reached on a walk to set up the Schifftner double.
 
The Javelinas responded in the next half inning with two runs on a bases clearing triple. ENMU replied with a solo run in the second inning. Andres Quintana started the inning with a double to center field and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Braeton Matthews punched a sacrifice fly into left center as the Hounds bounced back ahead 3-2. Immediately after, Texas A&M-Kingsville took its first lead of the night with two runs in the top of the third. A sacrifice fly tied the game at 3-3, and a single sent the visitors ahead 4-3.
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville's lead did not last long, as the Hounds jumped back in front in the fourth inning. After Quintana singled up the middle, B. Matthews tripled to deep left center to tie the contest at 4-4. Eastern took the lead after a failed pickoff attempt allowed B. Matthews to score from third for a 5-4 advantage. The scoring continued into the fifth inning with three runs crossing the plate. Quintana singled with the bases loaded to bring across one run, and Jude Perea followed with a single to score two runs, 8-4 ENMU.
 
However, the Javelinas clawed their way ahead of the Greyhounds over the next three innings. Two runs in the sixth inning and three runs in the seventh inning, set the Javelinas ahead 9-8. Eastern had an answer in the bottom of the seventh, with Hamilton bringing home a run on a hit by pitch to tie the game, 9-9. Each team then grabbed a run in the eighth inning, with Perea coming through with an RBI single into center field.
 
 After a scoreless ninth frame, the Hounds defense held the Javelinas in the top of the 10^th frame. With the Greyhounds at the plate in the 10^th, Sammy Williamson started with a single through the left side, representing the game winning run. Quintana walked, and B. Matthews moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Camden Matthews reached first base on a catcher's interference, pushing Williamson to the plate as the Hounds took the game 11-10 in 10 innings.

NOTABLE STATS

• Both teams supplied 15 hits during the game, with eight Greyhounds posting a hit, and three batters posting multiple hits.
• Quintana finished the game 4-5 at the plate, with three runs scored and one RBI. Perea had a career game hitting 3-5 with three RBIs, Roach also supplied three hits.
• After Perea's three RBIs, Schifftner and B. Matthews each had 2 RBIs.
• Noah De La Riva gets the no-decision, after throwing five innings and allowing six runs. Javier Luna tossed two important innings, surrendering three runs and posting three K's. Dalton Thatcher claimed the win in three innings from the bullpen, allowing just two hits and giving up one run.
• The Javelinas used five pitchers in the game, with the starter Kolby Lunsford going 4.0 innings and allowing five runs. Cole Payne gets the loss, despite not allowing an earned run, giving up one hits and two walks.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Phenomenal team win tonight against a very good team, and we needed that," said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. "We took advantage of their mistakes and played clean defense. The bottom half of the lineup really stepped up tonight big and we competed well on the mound against a solid offense," said Price. "(Noah) De La Riva kept us in it, while (Javier) Luna and (Dalton) Thatcher minimized very well coming out of the bullpen. We could have executed better earlier on with moving runners, but we finally did late and that's what mattered," said Price. "I'm really proud of (Jude) Perea for being ready when his name was called to start at shortstop tonight as he played a hell of a game. I challenged our guys to get that chip back on their shoulder for this weekend and they did that tonight," said Price. "We need to continue that mentality and come out ready to go tomorrow".

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• With the wins, ENMU snapped a nine-game losing skid against TAMUK, last beating the Javelinas on 3/16/19. It is the first win against Texas A&M-Kingsville in the Riley Price Era, and just the third time in the last five years.
• The win marked the 15^th of the season in LSC play, tying a program record for LSC wins in a season, dating back to 1992.
• Eastern have won two games this seaosn in walk-off fashion, both wins coming at home, 10-9 over UTPB in 12 Inn. (3/4/22)
• Perea set a season high for hits (3, also a career high), at bats (5), RBIs (3), and runs scored (1). Roach and C. Matthews continued there consecutive hitting streaks at 11 games each.
• Quintana provided a career best four hits in a game and tied a single-game season high for the team with four hits.
• ENMU return to the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader with the Javelinas. Game one is set for a 2 p.m. start time, while game two has an expected start of 5 p.m.