STORY UPDATED 3:15 P.M. (MST)
PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Baseball begins the 2024 season on home soil, with the Greyhounds facing the reigning national champions #1 Angelo State University for a four-game Lone Star Conference series. The series begins on Friday, Feb. 2, with a pair of seven inning contests scheduled for 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The next day, the Hounds and Rams are scheduled for a nine inning game, beginning at 2 p.m. The series finale will take place on Sunday, Feb. 4, with the first pitch slated for 1 pm.
TUNE IN
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
Eastern New Mexico retained 14 members of the 2023 squad that advanced to the LSC postseason, with a handful of key contributors. On the mound, ENMU bring back half of its starting rotation, with the returners accounting for 17 of the Greyhounds 23 wins last season.
Demetrio Archuleta led the Greyhounds with .371 batting average in 2023 and returns to the infield this season for the Green & Silver. Archuleta led the team with 65 hits and 50 runs scored, being recognized to the LSC All-Conference second team.
Cooper Hamilton played all 51 games in right field for the Greyhounds with a .346 BA, 65 hits, and 48 runs scored, while
Willie Ponce returns after playing 48 games with 51 hits and 42 RBIs.
For the Eastern pitching staff,
Ruger Bravo and
Adrian Rubio combined to start 27 games on the hill, with both leading the Greyhounds in strikeouts with 66 strikeouts for Bravo and 63 Ks for Rubio.
Julian Lopez flexed between a starter and reliever, finishing the 2023 season as a starter with a 5-2 record and a pair of complete games.
SCOUTING THE #1 RAMS
The Rams claimed a Lone Star Conference regular season title, LSC postseason title, and South-Central Region title enroute to the programs first national championship in 2023. The Rams finished with a record of 56-9 (40-8 in LSC play). The Rams have been given the top ranking according to the Preseason Poll from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Angleo State also garnered the top spot in the LSC Preseason Poll and South-Central Region Poll.
Angelo State bring back several key contributors' members to the team that won the national championship, with outfielder Jacob Guerrero (.412 BA in 2023, 93 hits) being selected as the LSC Preseason Player of the Year. Tripp Clark (.374 BA in 2023, 83 hits, 65 RBIs) and Kamden Kelton (.348 BA in 2023) are also back for the Rams just to list a few key returners. Gurrero, Clark, and Austin Beck (.338 BA BA in 2023, 41 stolen bases, 80 runs scored) were all selected as NCBWA Preseason All-Americans.
Braxton Pearson earned eight wins in 2023, holding a 2.64 ERA. Appearance leaders: Scott Ellis (22), Mason Bryant (20), and Austin Teel (20) all return to the hill for the Rams. Additionally, Pearson was selected as the LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year and a Preseason NCBWA All-American.
