OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The bats were alive for Eastern New Mexico Baseball's doubleheader split with Oklahoma Christian on Saturday afternoon at Dobson Field. During the opening game, ENMU scored 22 runs (with 11 in the 5
th inning) during a 22-6 win over the Eagles. In game two, Eastern came back from six runs down to take the lead, but a walk-off home run gave Oklahoma Christian the win. ENMU moves to 17-24 overall, along with a 15-24 conference record. The Eagles improves to 8-33 overall, while holding a 8-31 conference standing.
GAME ONE: ENMU 22, OC 6
After a scoreless frame, Eastern put up six runs in the 2
nd inning to take the lead.
Tucker Gideon started the inning with a walk, then
Beau Preston brought him home with a double to open the scoring.
Cooper Hamilton followed with a two-run home run, 3-0 ENMU, and
Landon Pyles continued the reach base streak with a walk.
Luciano Terilli singled them home, and a
Demetrio Archuleta walk prompted a pitching change.
Willie Ponce pulled a ball through the right side to plate a run, 5-0, and
Jonathan Baileys capped off the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
Following a two run for Oklahoma Christian in the bottom of the 4
th, the Greyhounds tossed up 11 runs in the 5
th inning to blow the game open. Eastern scored 11 runs from seven hits and four walks in the inning. Gideon and Hamilton highlighted the inning, as Gideon had a pair of doubles in the frame with one of those clearing a bases loaded situation. Hamilton provided a single and then knocked a three-run home run over the center field fence, 17-2 ENMU.
Oklahoma Christian responded with three runs in the 5
th inning, but the Greyhounds posted three runs of their own in the top of the 6
th. Gideon knocked in a run on a single, then Preston brought home a run on a double down the left field line.
Nyles Duren continued the scoring with a ground out as Eastern led 20-5 after six innings. Baileys tripled home a run in the final inning, and Gideon gathered another RBI in the 7
th as the contest finished 22-6.
NOTABLE STATS
- ENMU out-hit OC, 16-6, with the Greyhounds providing seven extra base hits. Six different hitters combined for the 16 hits, while all six of those hitters had multiple RBIs.
- Leading the way for ENMU, Gideon finished 4-5 at the plate with four RBIs, while Hamilton had three hits with five RBIs and a pair of home runs. Additionally, Terilli, Ponce, Preston, and Baileys each had three RBIs in the game.
- Gavin Perry tossed five innings for the Greyhounds in the start, allowing five runs with seven strikeouts. Anthony Gonzalez threw a scoreless 6th inning, while Noah Rodriguez picked up the final three outs.
- The Eagles had six pitchers take the mound during the game, as Chris Jones is dealt the loss with 1.0 innings pitched and six runs allowed on three hits and five walks.
GAME TWO: OC 14, ENMU 13
Both teams were back and forth to begin the game, with each team scoring a run in the 2
nd inning, and Oklahoma Christian taking a 3-2 lead after three innings. ENMU took back the lead with four runs in the 4
th inning to go up 6-3. After a Gideon walk started the inning, Hamilton doubled to tie the game at 3-3. Pyles gave ENMU the lead with a sacrifice fly, as Hamilton scored on a sacrifice fly from second base. A throwing error extended the inning as Terilli scored, and
Daniel Pruitt hit an RBI-double to put ENMU ahead 6-3.
However, the Eagles put up nine runs during the 5
th frame to take a 12 six lead over the Greyhounds. OC scored the runs on eight hits, a hit-by-pitch, a walk, and an error. The ENMU comeback effort began in the following inning, as Pyles leadoff with a single and Terilli followed with a walk. After two outs from the OC defense, Pruitt launched a home run down the left field line to half the deficit, 12-9.
After a 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 6
th inning, Eastern were down to their final out trailing three runs. ENMU drew three straight walks to load the bases, with Hamilton, Pyles, and Terilli all reaching base. Archuleta then reached base on a strikeout, but advanced on a wild pitch to score the runner from third and pit the score at 12-10 OC. Ponce stepped in with the bases loaded, crushing a ball to center for a bases clearing triple and put ENMU ahead 13-12. During the bottom of the inning, the Eagles knocked in a two-run home run to win the game 14-13 to cut short the ENMU celebrations.
NOTABLE STATS
- Oklahoma Christian finished with 15 hits, compared to the 11 hits from ENMU. Both teams combined for five errors in the field, with seven extra base hits for OC and four for ENMU.
- Pruitt provided three hits in the game with four RBIs, while ponce delivered a pair of hits and four RBIs. Pyles and Terilli both scored three times in the game, with Pyles and Archuleta each having two hits.
- Maddux Edmonson is dealt the loss in the walk-off winner. Julian Lopez tossed 4.0 innings to start the game, while Jadon Rendon, Marc Rios, Terilli, and Griffin Almond all pitched during the big 5th inning for OC.
- Silas Cowgill started the game for the Eagles, allowing six runs on eight hits over 4.0 inning. Caleb Huerta threw 2.2 innings with six runs allowed from a pair of hits. Matthew Shira earned the win on the walk-off, after giving up the lead in the 7th. Shira faced three batters with a pair of K's, one hit allowed, and one earned run.
FROM THE SOURCE
"A good win in game one today as we minimized on the mound and the bats stayed hot," said Head ENMU Baseball Coach Riley Price. "In game two we swung it but made too many mistakes on defense and they took full advantage. Game two was a tough one to lose like that after we fought back to take the lead, said Price. "Willie Ponce came up clutch again to give us the go ahead runs late, but just couldn't quite hang on. We need to continue hitting and play cleaner baseball tomorrow to win the series," said Price.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Perry earned his team leading sixth win on the mound for the Greyhounds.
- Playing their 159th career game for ENMU, Hamilton had a career high five RBIs in game one, while having their second two home run game of the season. Three hits and three runs scored also ties a season best for the left-handed hitter.
- In game one, Gideon marked the game with a season best four RBIs and four runs scored. The Greyhound center fielder had registered four straight games with four hits after the opening game. Ponce finished the opening game with three RBIs, their 11th multi-RBI game of the season.
- Terilli finished with their second game of the season with three or more RBIs. Archuleta posted a career best four walks in the contest, while Baileys tied a season best three RBIs and a new best three runs scored. Preston tied a season best for RBIs and runs scored with three each.
- During game two, Pruitt tied a season best for base hits (3) and RBIs (4). Ponce recorded their team leading fifth triple, and 12th multi-RBI game of the season (so far has 14 RBIs this weekend).
- Hamilton is now tied (with Ponce) for the team lead with five home runs this season, while Pruitt launched their third homer of the season.
- The Greyhounds conclude the series tomorrow against the Eagles, going for the series win. First pitch from Dobson Field is scheduled for 12 p.m. (MST).
