PORTALES, N.M. – Despite scoring 13 runs with 17 hits and three home runs, Eastern New Mexico Baseball fell in its series opener with to Lubbock Christian, 17-13, on Friday afternoon at Greyhound Baseball Field. Eastern shift to 22-24 on the season, with a 20-24 conference record. The Chaparrals move to 29-18, with a 27-18 Lone Star Conference standing.
 
LCU started the contest with six runs in the first two innings, benefiting from an RBI single, a two-run home run, and a three-run home run. The Hounds picked up a pair of runs in the second to cut into the LCU lead. Dylan Hummel homered to right center to get ENMU on the board, then Rutger Poiry singled to score Mason Estrada, 6-2 LCU.
 
Both teams put up a run in the fourth inning, with LCU posting a solo homerun, while Nick Schifftner tripled for ENMU to score a run, 7-3 LCU. The sixth inning brought more runs for both teams, 9-6 LCU. After two runs scored for the Chaps, Willie Ponce hit a two-run home run and Camden Matthews registered an infield single with the bases loaded to score a run.
 
The scoring didn't stop in the seventh inning, as Lubbock Christian plated four runs in the inning to take a 13-6 advantage. However, ENMU strung together seven hits in the bottom of the inning to make the score 13-12 after seven full innings. The hitting streak started with Jonatan Clough singling to left field followed by a single by Ponce, with both runners moving into scoring position on an error. Hummel singled to left to score a run, then Estrada followed with an RBI single, and Schifftner also singled a run home. Two batters later, Matthews posted a three-run homerun to get the Hounds within one run.
 
Lubbock Christian answered the Greyhounds call for more runs, scoring four runs over final two frames. ENMU fought back with one run, with Braeton Matthews scoring on a balk. In the end, LCU walked away with a 17-13 victory over ENMU.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Chaps finished just ahead of the Greyhounds on hits, 19-17.
• Eight ENMU hitters recorded a hit, while six batters posted multiple hits. Four Greyhounds finished with multiple RBIs in the game.
• Estrada was perfect in the batters box (5-5, four runs scored, and an RBI). C.Matthews, Clough, Ponce, Hummel, and Schifftner all finished with two hits. C. Matthews, Ponce, and Hummel each hit a home run in the game.
• For RBIs, C.Matthews led the way with four, while Ponce, Hummel, and Schifftner each finished with two.
• Adrian Rubio finished his outing with eight strikeouts, allowing nine runs on 10 hits in five innings. William McBride tossed 1.1 innings, while Damain Acosta threw the final 2.2 innings.
• Ayden Alger started the game for LCU and earned the win in 5.1 innings. Coleson Abel gave up six runs in just 1.1 innings, while Colton Brown registered a save during his 2.1 innings on the hill.

FROM THE SOURCE

"We showed some fight offensively later in the game, but needed to get to their starter quicker than we did," said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. "The combination of too many strikeouts offensively and too many free bases on the mound makes it tough to beat a good hitting team like LCU. The wind was not in our favor today either," said Price. "If we can continue swinging it and have better starts on the mound, I feel good going into the doubleheader tomorrow. Big kudos to Estrada, as he performed exceptionally well at the plate today, going 5 for 5 on the day," said Price.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• As a team, ENMU pitchers finished with 13 strikeouts in the game (a new season high).
• Estrada set a new career best with five hits and four runs scored.
• Ponce (4), C. Matthews (2), and Hummel (2) all homered during the game today.
• With eight strikeouts, Rubio tied a career best for K's. Their pervious best was eight strikeouts during a 4-3 victory over UT Permian Basin (3/24).
• The Hounds look to bounce back with two games against the Chaps on Saturday, Apr. 29. The first pitch of game one is set for 12 p.m.