PORTALES, N.M. – A walk-off single in game one highlight Eastern New Mexico Baseball's split with Texas A&M International on Saturday afternoon at Greyhound Baseball Field. The Greyhounds stole game one with a walk-off win, 5-4, over the Dustdevils, while Texas A&M International took the night cap by a score of 12-2.
GAME ONE: ENMU 5, TAMIU 4
The Greyhounds jumped on the board in the second inning using two single to bring in the game's opening run.
Nick Schifftner reached base placing a ball into right field, while moving to second on a groundout.
Willie Ponce sent a ball back up the middle to send Schifftner to the plate for the game's first run.
Eastern added to its lead in the next inning following an extra base hit from
Cooper Hamilton. Hamilton scorched a triple into center field, leading
Jonatan Clough to send him home after a single, 2-0 ENMU. However, the Dustdevils plated two runs in the fourth inning, benefiting from an error and a single.
Things remained scoreless heading into the seventh inning, where the Dustdevils put on two early base runners after back-to-back hits. Eastern were able to secure two outs with the runners advancing, but a single up the middle brought home two runs to go up 4-2 over ENMU.
However, the Greyhounds started a rally of their own to put base runners on with no outs.
Jayden Martinez started things with a single to center field,
Demetrio Archuleta punched a ball out to left field, and
Camden Matthews reached on a bunt single. Hamilton came to the dish and deliver a 2-RBI single to tie the game at 4-4, with runners on the corners and no outs. Later in the inning with the bases loaded and one out,
Dylan Hummel sent a ball up the middle to win game one 5-4 over TAMIU, scoring Hamilton.
NOTABLE STATS
- The Greyhounds out-hit the Dustdevils, 12-6, with eight different batters registering hits.
- Hamilton finished 2-3, with two RBIs, and scoring two runners (including the game winner). Clough, Archuleta, and Ponce each produced two hits, with Archuleta recording a double.
- Noah De La Riva gets the no decision for the Greyhounds, tossing six innings, allowing just two runs (none earned), with five K's. Anthony Gonzalez picks up the win in 1.0 innings from the bullpen, allowing two runs on three hits.
- Resse Peterson is given the loss, throw a third of an inning in relief. Lalo Salinas is takes a no decision, going 6.0 innings in the game.
GAME TWO: TAMIU 12, ENMU 2
Eastern struck first in game two, as Clough took advantage of a fielding error after a Schifftner single to go up 1-0 in the first inning. The Dustdevils quickly responded with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. A double scored a runner from second base to tie the game, then a infield hit brought home a run in a bases loaded two out situation.
Texas A&M International grabbed a run in the fourth inning, with a two out single putting a runner on base, and the next batter recording an RBI. The Greyhound took one back in the fifth inning, with C. Matthews doubling to right field and later scoring on a wild pitch. However, the Dustdevils threw up a crooked number on the scoreboard with eight runs in the sixth inning, going up 11-2. The runs came from five hits and three walks.
The Dustdevils went on to scored one more run in the seventh frame to secure a 12-2 over the Greyhounds in game two of the day.
NOTABLE STATS
- TAMIU came away with five hits in the game, compared to ENMU's nine hits. C. Matthews and Hummel each picked up a pair of hits.
- On the hill, Ruger Bravo takes the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits and five walks. Tommy Perez, Javier Luna, and Noah Rodriguez each saw action on the mound for the Greyhounds.
- Jan Cabrera claims the first win of the season for the Dustdevils, going 5.1 innings pitched and surrendering just two runs. Rolando Riza and Robert Villarreal had scoreless outings to close the game.
FROM THE SOURCE
"It was good to see us make a comeback in game one and get the win," said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. "Noah (De La Riva) threw pretty well, and Anthony (Gonzalez) was effective out of the pen. I thought we hit the baseball pretty well today but got to clean on the bases and on defense," said Price. "Game two we allowed too many free bases, and a lot of hard barrels didn't fall for us. We must be a lot cleaner on the mound and on defense going into tomorrow," said Price. "Look forward to seeing how this group responds tomorrow with a series win at stake,".
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Hummel's walk-off single is the first walk-off of the season, with Hummel collecting his second RBI of the weekend.
- Gonzalez picked up his win in Eastern colors, making his debut for the team.
- The Greyhounds will look to capture a series win tomorrow, as they face the Dustdevils at 1 p.m. in the series finale.
