5.6_ASU_Ponce (1)
Arthur Spragg
6
Eastern New Mexico ENMU 23-28
9
Winner Angelo State ASU 44-8
Eastern New Mexico ENMU
23-28
6
Final
9
Angelo State ASU
44-8
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Eastern New Mexico ENMU 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 6 8 1
Angelo State ASU 1 3 2 0 1 1 1 0 X 9 13 0

W: B. Pearson (7-1) L: Rubio, Adrian (3-7) S: C. Heuertz (2)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Cameron Brennan

Baseball Concludes Season In LSC Tournament Opening Round Defeat, 9-6 ASU

The Greyhounds ended their season with a postseason run for the first time since 2018.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – In a thrilling contest, (8) Eastern New Mexico Baseball saw its season end after falling to top-seeded #2 Angelo State University, 9-6, on Saturday afternoon at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium. The Rams won the series 2-0, as the Hounds exit the postseason in the Lone Star Conference Tournament opening round. Eastern finish the season with a record of 23-28, while the Rams advance to the next round with a 44-8 standing.
 
To start the game, Cooper Hamilton doubled down the left field line to get the Hounds on the bases early. Then with two outs, Willie Ponce doubled into the left center gap to score the game's first run. The nationally ranked Rams responded with a run in the bottom of the frame to tie the game after the first inning.
 
 
From then, Angelo State knocked in five runs over the next three innings to take a 6-1 lead after four full innings. Three runs came across in the second inning, with Eastern turning a 5-3 double play to end the inning. ASU returned for two more runs in the fourth inning. In the fifth inning, Jonatan Clough stopped the Hounds scoreless run with a solo home run to left center, while Angelo State had a solo home run of their own to lead 7-2.
 
 
After Angelo State picked up a run in the sixth inning, Clough struck again with a two-run home run in the seventh inning. Demetrio Archuleta first reached on a double to left field, setting up the two-run bomb from Clough. To end the seventh inning, the Rams scored a run from a solo home run.
 
 
The Greyhounds threatened in the eighth inning, loading the bases after three consecutive walks. Braeton Matthews brought home a run from a sacrifice fly, then Hamilton scored a run on a groundout, 9-6 ASU. From then, both teams produced but no more runs were pushed home. Finishing 9-6, the Greyhounds bowed out of the LSC Tournament against the top-seeded Angelo State Rams.

NOTABLE STATS

  • Eastern supplied eight hits during the game, while the Rams posted 13 hits in the game.
  • Five Greyhounds recorded a base hit, with Clough leading the way with three hits and three RBIs. Archuleta tagged a pair of hits, while Hamilton, Ponce, and B. Matthews complied a hit.
  • Mason Estrada and Rutger Poiry each drew two walks, with five Greyhounds recording a run scored.
  • Adrian Rubio was the starting pitcher for ENMU, lasting 4.0 innings and allowing seven runs in the loss. Julian Lopez entered as a relief pitcher, throwing four frames and giving up two runs.
  • Braxton Pearson started the game, throwing 2.0 innings and getting the win. The Rams had six different pitchers take the mound, with Caleb Heuertz picking up a save with two shutout innings.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Tough loss today to end our season," said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. "We fought hard until the very end with the #2 team in the nation today. Really proud of this group in believing in the goals we set this season and for putting the work in to achieve them," said Price. "I always tell our seniors from day one that their goal is to leave this program better than they found it. Next year's group will have a challenge in front of them to keep us moving in a positive direction," said Price. "Huge thanks to our players, their parents, the Portales community, ENMU Athletics, and our university for all their support this year. We look forward to another record-breaking year next season. God bless and go Hounds!".

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • The Greyhounds finish the season with a 23-28 record, along with a 21-26. It is the most wins in the Coach Price era and broke the record for most wins in the LSC (which was set last season).
  • For the third time this season, Clough hit a pair of home runs in a single game. Clough previously achieved the feat against West Texas A&M (3/5) and Oklahoma Christian (4/16).
  • Archuleta ended the season on a 19 game streak of reaching base, a program high.
  • Eastern will look to build on a positive 2023 season, heading towards the 2024 campaign. The Greyhounds will graduate 13 seniors, while retaining five student-athletes that played in over 40 games this season.