PORTALES, N.M. – Baseball is back in Portales, as Eastern New Mexico Baseball will play its home opening series against Texas A&M International this weekend at Greyhound Baseball Field, a conference matchup. The series starts on Friday, Feb. 10, with first pitch scheduled for 4 pm. The next day, the Hounds and Dustdevils are scheduled for two seven inning contests, beginning at 2 pm and 5 pm. The series finale will take place on Sunday, Feb. 12, with first pitch slated for 1 pm.

LAST TIME OUT

The Greyhounds faced tough competition to open the 2023 season, with #5 Angelo State picking up four wins over the Greyhounds.
 
During the season opener, Angelo State picked up an 11-1 (7 Inn.) win with Jonatan Clough launching a solo homerun. In game two, the Hounds were not able to hit with runners in scoring position, falling 5-1, with Willie Ponce posting a solo homerun.
 
After the Rams claimed game three, 17-1, the Greyhounds saved their best performance for the final game of the series. ENMU outhit the Rams 7-4, but ASU came away with a 6-3 win. Dalton Thatcher received a no decision, going five innings pitched with and allowing just one hit. Offensively, Camden Matthews posted a pair of hits, while Clough picked up a two-run homerun in the loss.

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS 

Entering their first home series of the season, the Greyhounds will be in search for their first win and conference win of the season. The Eastern offense struggled in the opening weekend, posting a .187 batting average, scoring six runs with 20 hits in the first series of the season. The ENMU pitching staff currently hold a 9.00 ERA and picking up nine strikeouts.

Clough leads the Greyhounds with a .385 batting average, scattering five hits and three home runs in his first ENMU at bats. C. Matthews and Ponce are just behind with four hits, while Cooper Hamilton has the Greyhounds lone stolen base. Additionally, Clough leads the team in RBI's (4) and slugging percentage (1.154), while Ponce has a team high .462 on-base percentage.
 
After the opening series, Thatcher holds a team low 1.80 ERA with an opposing batting average of .071. Adrian Rubio leads the team with three strikeouts after the opening weekend.

SCOUTING THE DUSTDEVILS

The Dustdevils also faced a tough challenge to start the season, suffering four straight losses against #17 West Texas A&M. In the season opener, TAMIU fell 10-1 against WT, then narrowly lost in game two 4-2 against the Buffs. The final two games went in favor of the Buffaloes, winning 9-5 and 17-2 (7 Inn.), over Texas A&M International.
 
On the season, the Dustdevils sport a batting average of .195 with 10 runs scored on 22 hits. On the hill, Texas A&M International has an ERA of 9.90, giving up 40 runs, with 50 strikeouts and an opposing batting average of .368.
 
At the plate, Alex Lugo posted a .571 batting average in the opening weekend, securing four hits, with two RBI's. Daniel Hernandez, Matt Kissamis, Ronnie Bailey, and Joseph Cruz all have three hits so far this season, with Hernandez and Cruz posting three runs scored (team high).
 
On the mound, Jan Cabrera supplies a 2.25 ERA after one start for the Dustdevils, leading the team with six strikeouts. Cody Templeton, Lalo Salinas, and Danny Dial each received a start for Texas A&M International, with Salinas pitching a season high 4.2 innings pitched.

TUNE IN 

Each contest will be streamed on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network and are pay-per-view. Live stats will also be provided during the games.