PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Baseball faces a pivotal Lone Star Conference series this weekend, as UT Permian Basin comes to town for a four-game series. The series starts with a single nine-inning game on Friday, Mar. 22, with the first pitch set for 5 p.m. The next day the teams have a doubleheader, on Saturday, Mar. 23, with the games beginning at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The series ends on Sunday, Mar. 24, beginning at 1 p.m.
TUNE IN
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDSÂ
Eastern New Mexico returned to conference play with a 2-2 split with Cameron, taking the opening game 6-4 and the series finale 7-1. The Aggies took the doubleheader, 5-3 and 6-1. In the opening game,
Gavin Perry tossed seven innings to pick up the victory on the hill as the offense scored three runs in the 8
th frame to take the lead.
Luciano Terilli shut down the Aggies to secure a save in the victory. During the series finale, Eastern scored four runs in the first two innings, and secured the win behind the strong pitching of
Josaiah Estrella,
Zach Raichel, and Terilli.
The Greyhound hitters have a .288 batting average, posting 180 runs with 228 hits and 151 RBIs. Eastern's hitters have drawn 118 walks, with 66 extra base hits this season. On the mound, Eastern New Mexico's ERA sits at 6.61 entering the series with the Falcons. ENMU's pitchers have drawn 187 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .291 batting average.
Willie Ponce has been the Hounds leading bat all season, holding a .375 batting average with 33 hits and 34 runs scored, also leading the team with 12 hit by pitches and a .509 on-base percentage.
Demetrio Archuleta (30 hits),
Daniel Pruitt (29 hits), and Terilli (29 hits) are also key figures in the Hounds lineup.
Beau Preston is the team's leader in RBIs (25), while Pruitt chips in with 21 RBIs with 11 doubles (team best). Perry has found their groove in recent weeks, winning four consecutive starts with a 4.56 ERA and a team best 31 strikeouts. Estrella has solidified themselves in the Greyhounds rotation, holding a 3.77 ERA with a 2-1 record. Terilli has three saves on the season, in addition to starting every game this season as the Greyhounds left fielder.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
UT Permian Basin has been a solid unit this season, currently sitting in 8
th place in the LSC standings (one spot ahead of ENMU). The Falcons hold a 13-15 record this season, with the same conference record. In their last series, UTPB faced a tough #5 West Texas A&M squad dropping three games against the Buffs. The visiting WT took the series opener, 8-5, while grabbing the final two games 13-4 and 15-8. UT Permian Basin grabbed a tight 6-5 win during the second game of the series.
The Falcons have a .290 batting average so far this season, picking up 249 hits with 171 RBIs, scoring 191 runs. Additionally, UTPB has gathered 113 walks with 86 extra base hits. UT Permian Basin loves to steal bases, landing 2
nd in the LSC with 48 stolen bases on 69 attempts. The UTPB pitching sports a 7.68 ERA so far this season. The team has produced 193 strikeouts, while giving up 292 hits and 216 runs, producing six saves this season.
Ethan Flodstrom is the hit leader for UT Permian Basin, holding a .346 batting average, while Mason Hamlin leads the team with 34 hits, 33 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases (2
nd in LSC). Gibrian Pena is the other Falcon hitter with a batting average over .300 (.313), as Austin Hall leads the team with 28 RBIs. On the hill, Creede Jeffers leads the team with four wins, dialing in a team best 38 strikeouts. Brock Robarts leads the conference with six saves on the season, with a team high 14 appearances this season. Jaden Wilcox, Bryan Adams, and Trevor Barth each has two wins this season, second most on the team behind the Jeffers.
