PORTALES, N.M. – In a game that saw 43 runs scored, Eastern New Mexico Baseball won in walk-off fashion, 22-21, in the series opener with Oklahoma Christian University on Friday afternoon at Greyhound Baseball Field. With the win, Eastern improves to 18-20 on the season, with a 16-20 LSC record. The Eagles drop to 12-27 overall, while holding a 12-25 LSC standing.
The scoring started immediately for both squads in the first frame. Oklahoma Christian started the game with three runs, but ENMU replied with four runs in the inning.
Jonatan Clough tripled with the bases loaded to tie the game at 3-3, then
Dylan Hummel hit a sacrifice fly to give ENMU the lead. OC plated three runs in the 2
nd frame, while ENMU responded with one run, 6-5 OC.
Eastern broke open the game with seven runs in the third inning to take a 12-6 lead.
Nick Schifftner started with an RBI single, then
Jude Perea also registered an RBI single to take a 7-6 lead. A sacrifice fly made the score 8-6, then Clough hammered a grand slam over the centerfield fence to go up over OC.
From then, the Eagles scored six unanswered runs to tie the game at 12-12 in the middle of the sixth inning. Although, the Greyhounds put up three runs in the bottom of the inning to restore their lead. Schifftner scored on a failed pickoff from the Eagles, then
Nyles Duren came through with a two-out 2-RBI single, 15-12. Oklahoma Christian was up to the task, scoring six runs in the top of the 7
th to regain the lead, 18-15. The Eagles benefitted from a grand slam and two unearned runs to go ahead.
The Greyhounds didn't quit and posted five runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 20-18 advantage.
Camden Matthews started things with an RBI single, then
Demetrio Archuleta tied the contest at 18 all with a 2-RBI single. Clough brought home a run on a single, then Duren recorded a sacrifice fly, 20-18.
Oklahoma Christian tied the contest with a two-run home run in the 8
th inning, then took a 21-20 lead in the 9
th inning after an infield single scored a run. After scoring 20 runs in the game, Eastern found a way to score two more times and walked away with a win. Duren doubled with one out to get in scoring position, then
Mason Estrada recorded a single to left field to send Duren home and tie the game, 21-21. After
Jorge Colon came in to pinch run for Estrada,
Rutger Poiry reached on a hit by pitch to push Colon to scoring position. Then, Schifftner pulled a ball through the left side with Colon rounding third and scoring to finish an immaculate 22-21 win over Oklahoma Christian.
NOTABLE STATS
- Oklahoma Christian finished with 27 hits, while the Greyhounds managed 23 base hits during the game.
- All but one batter recorded a base hit, with eight hitters recording multiple hits.
- Schifftner sprayed five hits on the afternoon, with C. Matthews, Clough, and Estrada all securing three base hits.
- Clough provided a huge nine RBIs in the game, thanks to a bases loaded triple, and a grand slam. Duren popped up with three RBIs, after going 2-3 at the dish as a pinch hitter.
- Perea scored four times in the game, leading the team, while four other Greyhounds scored three times.
- William McBride was the pitcher of record during the Schifftner walk-off, giving him his first win of the season. McBride tossed three innings, while starter Adrian Rubio finished five innings, and Javier Luna threw one frame.
- The Eagles had nine pitchers take the rubber during the game, Nathan Kwan threw the most innings, 2.2 innings, while starter Matthew Shira went two innings. The loss went to Jayden Saylor, giving up two runs in the 9th inning on two hits.
FROM THE SOURCE
"Definitely not a clean game of baseball, but I'm glad we ended up on the winning side of it," said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. "I'm proud of the fight we showed offensively and how we responded throughout the game. Defensively, we didn't make some plays we needed to make and have to clean it up going into tomorrow," said Price. "On the mound, we did not execute location well, allowed too many leadoff guys on, and have to be better getting that third out. I expect another battle tomorrow, but need to minimize and just play cleaner baseball all the way around," said Price.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- With the victory, Head Coach Price has now led the Greyhounds to the winningest season under his tenure. 18 wins surpasses the 2022 squads record of 17-31. The 16th win in conference play also ties a program best for wins in LSC play.
- Eastern set several season highs during the game, including runs scored (22), hits (23), RBIs (21), walks (9), and sacrifice flies (3).
- Despite just three hits, Clough marked the game with career high nine RBIs (tying a program record). Clough's seven at bats are tied for 4th most in program history. Clough was double short of the cycle. With his 11th home run of the season, Clough is now tied for 3rd in program history for a single season home run record.
- Schifftner provided a career best five hits in the game, career high seven at bats, while finishing with a season high three runs scored. The five hits lands the Senior in 3rd all-time for a single game hit total. Schifftner just finished shy of the cycle with a just a homerun missing from the milestone.
- Estrada and Hamilton finished with a career best three walks each in the game. C. Matthews and Hamilton tied a season best with three runs scored.
- Perea scored a career best four runs in the game, while posting his first RBI of the season. McBride produced his first win of the season.
- In terms of team milestones, 22 runs scored is the 9th most in program history and the most since 2018, when the Greyhounds scored 25 runs against Calumet St. Joesph in 2018. 23 hits are tied for 9th for most in a single game. For RBIs, 21 runs batted in stands at 7th all-time.
- The Hounds will play the Eagles in a doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, Apr. 15. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 p.m.
