ODESSA, Texas – After falling in the first game of the day, Eastern New Mexico Baseball captured the second game of a doubleheader against UT Permian Basin. In game one, the home team picked up a 7-0 win over ENMU, with the Hounds claiming a 5-2 contest in the second game. ENMU move to 14-14 overall on the season, along with a 12-14 conference record. The Falcons moved to 11-20 after the split, with an identical conference record.

GAME ONE: UTPB 7, ENMU 0

The Falcons began the contest with the games first runs in the third inning. The bottom of the inning started with a single, and reaching third on a stolen base. A sacrifice fly brought the runner home, then three straight two out singles sent home a second run in the inning, 2-0 UTPB after three innings.
 
UT Permian Basin added to its lead in the fourth inning using three singles and a reach on error with two outs to bring home four runs, 6-0 UTPB. Meanwhile, the Hounds struggled to get things going offensively with just four hits from the first five innings. The Falcons added one more run in the fifth inning before the contest ended, while the Hounds posted three hits in the final inning but couldn't score. The contest ended 7-0 for UT Permian Basin.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Falcons outhit the Greyhounds 9-7 during the game. The Hounds posted three extra base hits.
• Camden Matthews accounted for three of the seven hits in the game, with a pair of doubles.
• Ruger Bravo gets the loss with four innings pitched, allowing eight hits and seven runs. Austin Dunn and Joshua Martin each tossed one inning during the game, both recording a strikeout.
• Creede Jeffers threw a complete game gem for the Falcons, striking out 12 batters in the shutout win.

GAME TWO: ENMU 5, UTPB 2

Pitchers for both teams dominated the first three innings to start game two, with just two base runners allowed between both starters. ENMU broke open the contest with a patient hitting in the fourth inning. C. Matthews began the inning with a walk (first Hound to reach base in the game), Demetrio Archuleta bunted to reach base, and Willie Ponce singled to left field to load the bases with no outs. Jonatan Clough continued the trend of singles to score the games first run, with Dylan Hummel bringing home the second run on a sacrifice fly to left field, 2-0 ENMU.
 
The Falcons took a run back in the fourth inning, after a groundout forced home a base runner. However, the Greyhounds responded with three runs in the top of the fifth inning to restore a moderate lead. Mason Estrada led off the inning with a single and Nyles Duren followed with a walk. After C. Matthews moved over the runners on a sacrifice bunt, Archuleta doubled to center field to send a pair of Greyhounds to the plate. Later with two outs, Clough traded places with Archuleta at second base after a double pushing the Greyhounds advantage to 5-1.
 
On the hill, Julian Lopez was tying up Falcons hitters with just three hits allowed and the Greyhound defense making plays in the field after five innings. A sacrifice fly was all the Falcons could muster for the remainder of the game, scoring in the sixth inning. Eastern came away with a 5-2 victory in game two of the doubleheader.

NOTABLE STATS

• ENMU provided six hits in the game, while UTPB collected seven hits.
• Clough and Archuleta both had two hits in the game, with each hitter posting a double. Ponce and Estrada each had a single in the contest.
• In terms of RBIs, Clough and Archuleta brought home two runs, while Hummel had one RBI.
• Lopez was outstanding on the rubber for ENMU, throwing a complete game and allowing just two runs on seven hits. Despite having just two strikeouts, Lopez allowed no walks and induced eight flyouts and nine groundouts.
• Grant Harvill takes the loss, allowing four hits and three runs in four innings. Trey Penny and Austin Raliegh each recorded one out, while Austin Parks finished with 1.1 innings pitched, and Andrew Troppmann tossed one frame.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Game one today was rough as we did not compete in the box very well at all and didn't buy into our approach at the plate," said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. "Way too many strikeouts and we can't be going down looking like we did. I'll give their starter on the mound some credit because he challenged us in the zone, and we didn't respond to it at all," said Price. "Bravo didn't have his best stuff today, but we gave him no support and got sloppy on defense. In game one they beat us at our own game, which we can't let that happen," said Price.

"In game two, Lopez put the team on his back and gave us a phenomenal complete game start on the mound and took us all the way home for the win. We finally decided to wake up a bit and were able to manufacture some runs with a few timely hits to take a lead," said Price. "We're still not competing at the plate like we should, but at least our defense made some big plays and hitters executed enough to find a way to win the game. (Camden) Matthews and Archuleta swung it pretty well today and I'm proud of Rio Granger and Estrada for stepping up off the bench in their at bats," said Price.

"Going into tomorrow we have to play clean baseball and be a lot more competitive at the plate in order to take home the series win against a scrappy UTPB team," said Price.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Dunn and Martin both played their first game for ENMU this season, while Dunn made his debut for Eastern.
• Lopez recorded his first complete game in his Greyhound career, setting a season long 7.0 innings thrown. With the win, Lopez moves to 2-1 on the season.
• The Greyhounds complete the series against the Falcons on Sunday, Mar. 26, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. (MST)