PORTALES, N.M. – In a back and forth contest, Eastern New Mexico Baseball fell, 16-15, in the series opener with Cameron University. The Hounds slip to 9-13 overall with a 7-13 record, while the Aggies improve to 5-21 on the season, along with a 5-20 LSC standing.
 
The game started with some great defense from the Greyhounds, turning a 6-4-3 double play in the first to keep the Aggies off the board. In the first inning, a two-out double from Jonatan Clough started the hitting for ENMU. After Clough stole third, Willie Ponce drove home the Greyhounds first run with a single up the middle. Ponce then stole second, and Dylan Hummel knocked a base hit to left to score the games second run, ENMU 2-0.
 
To start the second inning, the Aggies hit back with four runs to take its first lead of the game. However, the Greyhounds stormed back with six runs in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-4 lead. With the bases loaded after a walk and a pair of hit-by-pitches, Clough worked a walk to scored a run. Then, Ponce launched a grand slam homerun to right field to swing the lead back to ENMU. Eastern scored its final run of the inning on a wild pitch.
 
After a run in the third inning from the Greyhounds to go ahead 9-4, the Aggies lodged five runs in the fourth frame to tie the contest at 9-9. Eastern responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame to retake the lead. After a pair of Greyhounds reached with no outs, Camden Matthews scored a run from a fielders choice, then Cooper Hamilton forced home a run after reaching on an error. Then with one out and runners on the corners, Ponce singled a run home to go ahead 12-9. Later, Demetrio Archuleta tripled to right center to add to more runs to the Greyhounds tally.
 
In the following inning, the Aggies scored two runs but the Greyhounds turned a triple play in the frame to keep the lead. With the bases loaded and no outs, a ground ball to Ponce turned to Archuleta for the out at second then fired to first base to get the batter. Nyles Duren then threw across the field to third base, where Hummel applied the tag for a triple play.
 
Eastern added to its lead in the fifth inning with a single run from a fielder choice, 15-11. The Aggies fought back to tie the game at 15-15 with a two bases loaded singles in the sixth. After the Hounds went down 1-2-3, Cameron took the lead after a bases loaded groundout scored a run, 16-15 CU. From then, both teams pitching started to hold the opposing hitter with the Greyhounds in search of one run going into the bottom of the ninth. ENMU had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the ninth with runners on second and third with one out. However, the Aggies forced a foul out to first and a flyout to center to hold onto a 16-15 win.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Greyhounds finished with 14 hits, while the Aggies collected 12 hits.
• Five hitters produced the 14 hits for ENMU, with three hitters having three or more hits.
• Ponce had a great afternoon at the plate, finishing 4-6 at the dish with six RBIs, and scored three runs. Hummel and Archuleta each secured three hits, along with both hitters producing two RBIs.
• Adrian Rubio is given the no decision, starting the contest and going four innings with nine runs allowed. Vernon Hart and Anthony Gonzalez each tossed one inning, with the latter taking the loss giving up three runs. Noah Rodriguez tossed an effective three innings, giving up two hits, with two strikeouts.
• Drew Henderson picks up the win, throwing 7.1 innings in relief and allowing seven runs with five strikeouts. Brendan Moran started the game (1.0 IP) and Jacob Acheson allowed four runs in relief (0.2 IP).

FROM THE SOURCE

"Pretty disappointed on how we pitched it today as we allowed way too many free bases and it hurt us in the end," said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. "Offensively, we had a few guys really swing it well today, but definitely didn't have the amount of quality at bats that we should have up and down the lineup. On a positive note, Rodriguez did a great job out of the pen late to give us a chance to make the comeback," said Price. "We need to regroup and come locked in for the doubleheader tomorrow, ready to play cleaner baseball". 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Ponce produced his first four hit game of the season, along with a personal best six RBIs in the game. Additionally, Ponce tied a series best three runs scored, while hitting their third home run of the season.
• Roach posted a season best three runs scored, while Rodriguez tossed his best outing of the season. Rodriguez finished with three innings pitched, allowing two hits with two strikeouts.
• As a team, the Greyhounds secured a season high seven walks during the contest.
• The Greyhounds look to bounce back tomorrow, as the two teams will meet for a doubleheader with game one scheduled for 12 p.m.