PORTALES, N.M. – In cold and frigid temperatures, Eastern New Mexico Baseball dropped a game with Texas A&M-Kingsville, 16-6 (8 Inn.), on Saturday afternoon at Greyhound Baseball Field. Eastern now stand at 5-6 on the season, with the same record in LSC play. The Javelinas now sport a 5-7 record overall, and a conference standing of 4-7.

After ENMU escaped a bases loaded no-out jam in the top of the first inning, the offense sparked three runs to start the game. With two outs, Cooper Hamilton and Willie Ponce both reached base to send Daniel Pruitt to the plate. The Greyhounds catcher pulled a double down the left field line to score Hamilton from second. The next batter, Luciano Terilli, shot a single up the middle to bring two more runs home. The scoring continued in the second inning, as a Hamilton sacrifice fly made the score 4-0 ENMU.
 
The Javelinas started to connect in the batter's box in the third inning, using a pair of hits and two errors to score three runs in the inning. After a scoreless fourth inning, Texas A&M-Kingsville took their first lead of the afternoon with two runs being scored on walks in the fifth. ENMU replied to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, as a bases loaded fielder's choice from Beau Preston brought home the Greyhounds fifth run.
 
However, the Javelinas put up six runs in the sixth inning to jump out 11-5 over the Greyhounds. With no-outs and the bases loaded, two runs scored from a fielding error, then a 3-RBI double increased the lead. A sacrifice fly allowed the final run to score in the big inning. A Landon Pyles RBI double got a run back for the Greyhounds in the 7^th inning, but the Javelinas responded with five runs in the top of the 8^th. TAMUK scored five runs on five hits and a walk to go up 16-6. A 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth finished the game in favor of the Javelinas, 16-6.

NOTABLE STATS

• Eastern finished with seven hits in the game, while Texas A&M-Kingsville compiled 17 hits in the game.
• Pruitt and Terilli each finished with a pair of hits, while Terilli collected two RBIs. Ponce scored twice for the Greyhounds.
• Ruger Bravo started the game for the Greyhounds and got a no-decision, throwing 4.0 innings with three runs allowed (all unearned) giving up four hits with two K's. Maddux Edmonson takes the loss, giving up five runs from six hits in 1.0 innings. Griffin Almond, Jadon Rendon, Logan Kinter, and Anthony Gonzalez all took the mound for ENMU during the game.
• Brian Buchanan earned the victory in 2.1 innings of action, allowing one run from three hits and two walks. Jake Thielen started the game for the Javelinas, being tagged for five runs on four hits, four hit batsmen, and three walks. Daniel Cordova threw the final 1.2 innings of the game, not allowing a hit and retiring all five batters they faced.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Much like the weather today, we played bad and the bats were pretty cold," said Head ENMU Baseball Coach Riley Price. "We got out a bases loaded no outs jam in the first inning, then proceeded to take a four-run lead, so things were looking good for us until the wheels started falling off in the third inning," said Price. "When we make an error or two, we definitely can't combine that with not scoring runs and that's what happened. Momentum definitely shifted their way, and they took full advantage," said Price. "Not proud of how we handled adversity today, and we are much better than we have shown the last two games. Hope we can pull it back together and find a way to salvage the series tomorrow with a split," said Price.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Jonathan Baileys played their first game in a Greyhound uniform, recording a double.
• Eastern concludes the series tomorrow afternoon, Feb. 18, with a nine-inning contest against the Javelinas. First pitch from Greyhound Baseball Field is set for 1 p.m.