PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Baseball will take part in the opening round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament this weekend, the first postseason appearance for ENMU since 2018. The Greyhounds will matchup with top-seeded #2 Angelo State University for a best of three series this weekend. Game one will be played Friday, May 5^th, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The second game of the series will be held on Saturday, May 6^th starting at 3 p.m. If the series is forced to a third game, that will take place on Sunday, May 7^th, with the first pitch at 12 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

The Greyhounds picked up a game against Lubbock Christian University in their regular season finale. After falling in game one of the series, 17-13, the Greyhounds secured postseason baseball with a 13-9 win over the Chaps. In the game, Demetrio Archuleta finished with three hits, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Julian Lopez picked up the victory on the mound, with Anthony Gonzalez tossing two relief innings. LCU claimed the final two games, 19-9 and 18-5.

TOURNAMENT BREAKDOWN

The Greyhounds make their first postseason appearance since 2018, entering the three-game series format for the first time in the Riley Price era. The winner of the series will advance to the double-elimination tournament at the highest remaining seed. (2) #18 St. Edward's and (7) St. Mary's will meet, (3) #24 UT Tyler will entertain (6) Texas A&M-Kingsville, while (4) Lubbock Christian battle (5) West Texas A&M. The Greyhounds last postseason win came against ASU in 2018, which was the last time ENMU bested the Rams.

SCOUTING THE (8) GREYHOUNDS 

Eastern New Mexico finished with a 23-26 record during the regular season, with a 21-26 LSC record. The Greyhounds offense averaged a .319 batting average, scoring 363 runs, with 495 hits. On the hill, ENMU sported a 9.10 ERA, allowing 429 runs and 553 hits, while striking out 276 batters.
 
Archuleta capped the season with a team best .371 batting average, while Camden Matthews finished as the team leader in hits 65. Cooper Hamilton has been effective in the batting lineup with 64 hits and a .356 batting. As the Hounds cleanup hitter, Jonatan Clough paces the team in RBIs (66, 2^nd in LSC), home runs (16, LSC leader), and slugging percentage (.746, 5^th in the LSC).
 
With wins in his last three starts, Lopez holds the top ERA in the starting rotation for the Greyhounds (7.43) with a 5-2 record. Ruger Bravo has a program best 65 strikeouts and six wins. From the bullpen, William McBride and Javier Luna each have two saves this season, while Gonzalez has provided important relief outings in his last two appearances.

SCOUTING THE (1) #2 RAMS

The nationally ranked Rams enter as the top ranked team in the South-Central Region, top seed in the conference, and the 2^nd ranked team in the nation according to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCWBA). The Rams concluded the regular season with a split against the Buffs of West Texas A&M.
 
Angelo State finished a historic season with a 42-8 record along with a 40-8 Lone Star standing. ASU stands as one of the best teams in the nation, providing a .345 batting average (2^nd in LSC), 531 hits (3^rd in LSC), 475 runs scored (2^nd in LSC), with 410 RBIs (3^rd in LSC). The Rams pitching staff has near perfect this season, holding a conference low 3.62 ERA, while giving up 332 hits and 183 runs, striking out 450 batters, and an opposing batting average of .228.

Jacob Guerrero has been among the top conference hitters all season, leading the team with 67 hits and a .414 batting average. Tripp Clark provides power in the line up with a team high nine home runs and 56 RBIs. The rest of the Angelo lineup provides a batting average north of .320. The Rams also have the top two base stealers in the conference, Thomas Cain with 32 stolen bags leads the conference, while teammate Austin Beck is just behind with 29 stolen bases.

On the mound, Kade Bragg as established himself as the top pitcher in the conference, sporting a 1.11 ERA with a 11-1 record, both conference bests. Braxton Pearson is second on the team with a 6-1 record, while Aaron Munson and Scott Ellis have a record of 5-2.

TUNE IN

Each contest will be streamed on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network and are pay-per-view. Live stats will also be provided during the games.