PORTALES, N.M. – After being pushed back one day, Eastern New Mexico Baseball are set to battle in-state rival New Mexico Highlands this weekend in a non-conference series. The two-game set starts on Saturday, Mar. 9, with a nine-inning game set to start at 4 p.m. Then, the teams conclude the short series with a nine-inning game on Sunday, Mar. 10 beginning at 1 p.m.

TUNE IN

• This weekend games will be covered on the LSC Digital Network. The LSC Digital Network will now offer a single game pass for $15, a monthly pass for $30, and a yearly pass for $140. 3/9 G1 ENMU vs NMHU | 3/10 G2 ENMU vs NMHU
• Eastern step out of conference play for the only time this season, playing Mew Mexico Highlands of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Admission is free to all ENMU Baseball Games.
• Live stats will be available for each contest this week: 3/9 ENMU vs NMHU | 3/10 ENMU vs NMHU

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS 

Heading into its gap in conference play, ENMU stands at 9-11 overall. The Greyhounds came away with a split against #5 West Texas A&M in their last series. The Greyhounds took the opening two games of the series, while WT captured the final two games. In the series opener, the Greyhounds set several season marks after beating WT 20-10 in seven innings with 20 hits and 18 RBIs. During a tight 8-5 win, ENMU scored six runs during the final three innings, with Luciano Terilli recording the final out of the game to pick up a save.

ENMU hitters have a .292 batting average, scoring 138 runs with 180 hits and 120 RBIs. Eastern's hitters have drawn 89 walks, with 53 extra base hits this season. On the rubber, Eastern New Mexico's ERA sits at 7.33 so far this season. Allowing 186 hits and 144 runs. The Greyhounds pitchers have drawn 134 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .300 batting average.

For the Greyhounds, Willie Ponce has a conference best 28 runs scored with a team best 26 hits. Daniel Pruitt leads Eastern with a .379 batting average and a .561 slugging percentage. Beau Preston has recorded a team high 23 RBIs, along with 13 walks (2^nd on the team). On the mound, Gavin Perry has won his last three starts, posting a 5.46 ERA. Six other pitchers have a win this season for ENMU, while Terilli leads the team with two saves.

SCOUTING THE COWBOYS

The Cowboys play their final weekend of non-conference action before beginning their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule, New Mexico Highlands come to Portales after having close to two weeks away from the field. New Mexico Highlands sport a 4-12 record, having lost their first 12 games of the season, but sweeping Oklahoma Panhandle State in a four-game series. NMHU grabbed a pair of tight games, 4-3, then picked up a two-run win, 8-6, along with a 22-7 victory.

New Mexico Highlands have a .274 batting average so far this season, picking up 134 hits with 77 RBIs, scoring 134 runs. The Cowboys have picked up 48 walks, while scattering 49 extra base hits. The NMHU pitching sports an 8.76 ERA during its opening four weekends of the season. The team has produced 102 strikeouts, while giving up 139 hits and 135 runs.

Taiga Sato has been a standout in the batter's box for the Cowboys to start the season, leading the team in batting average (.417), hits (20), runs scored (14), and RBIs (11). Just behind Sato, Carlos Chavez has a .373 batting average with 19 hits, 12 runs scored, and 11 RBIS. For the pitching staff, Andrew Rodriguez has started four games this season with a 4.82 ERA, 13 strikeouts, and a 1-1 record. Andrew Baltazar paces the team with 19 strikeouts in four starts, while Jace Dominic has a save this season with a 4.91 ERA in four appearances.