ODESSA, Texas – A combination a timely hitting and solid pitching pushed Eastern New Mexico Baseball past UT Permian Basin, 4-3, in the series opener at Roden Field on Friday morning. With the victory, the Greyhounds improve to 13-13 overall on the season, while holding a 11-13 Lone Star Conference standing. The Falcons drop to 10-19 overall and in conference play.
After three scoreless innings to start the contest, ENMU picked up the games first run in the fourth inning.
Jonatan Clough induced a walk with one out, then stole second base to move into scoring position. With two outs,
Dylan Hummel hit a hard grounder to deep third and beat out the throw to third base, with Clough rounding third as the ball escaped from the UTPB defense, 1-0 ENMU.
The Falcons responded in the next half inning, using a hit by pitch then a stolen base to move a runner into scoring position. Then, a single up the middle tied the contest after four innings. In the sixth frame both teams picked up a run, to make the score 2-2.
Cooper Hamilton tripled to start the inning, and
Willie Ponce drove him home on a sacrifice fly. For UTPB, a single along with an error brought the game tied at 2-2.
Eastern took back the lead in the seventh inning, taking advantage of a bases loaded situation.
Rutger Poiry and
Nyles Duren both singled with one out, then
Camden Matthews reached on a fielder choice, beating out a potential double play. Then, Hamilton loaded the bases with a hit by pitch to bring Clough to the plate with two outs. Clough sent a hard-hit ball back up the middle to give ENMU a two-run cushion, 4-2. The Falcons responded with a solo homerun in the seventh, but trailed with 4-3 with two innings to go.
From there,
Javier Luna entered the game on the mound replacing
Adrian Rubio, who had thrown seven strong innings as a starter. Luna closed out the contest for ENMU, navigating a double in the eighth, and ending the game with a looking strikeout as part of a 1-2-3 ninth inning. The Greyhounds came away with the series opener, 4-3, over UT Permian Basin.
NOTABLE STATS
- Both teams finished with seven hits during the game, with the Greyhounds recording a pair of extra base hits.
- Demetrio Archuleta posted a single and double in the game, while Hamilton picked up a triple. Clough managed two RBIs in the game, while Ponce also drove in one run.
- Rubio had a great outing for the Greyhounds, picking up his second win of the season after seven innings pitched with eight strikeouts and three runs allowed (two runs earned). Luna recorded a two-inning save for ENMU, recording two punchouts and allowing just one hit.
- For the Falcons, Trevor Barth is handed the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) in 6.1 innings. Eddie Cheong and Austin Raleigh each recorded one out on the mound for UTPB, while Trey Penny tossed two scoreless innings with five K's.
FROM THE SOURCE
"Definitely didn't swing it as well as we should have today and made a couple mistakes in the field. However, we made some huge defensive plays to stop them from manufacturing runs late," said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. "I'm really proud of Rubio for staying composed and handling adversity today on the mound. Luna did a great job out of the pen and slammed the door closed," said Price. "It's a nice win today and we need to get out bats going again for tomorrow".
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Luna recorded his second save of the season, now a career high in a single season.
- Rubio found a career high eight punchouts during the game, beating his previous mark of seven set against #15 St. Edward's in a 6-1 victory (2/25).
- In the batter's box, Clough recorded his 23rd and 24th RBI of the season, while Hamilton posted his second triple of the season.
- The Greyhounds will face the Falcons for a doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, Mar. 25. Game one is set to begin at 11 a.m. (MST), with the second game of the day set to start shortly after.
