PORTALES, N.M. – In a pair of close games, Eastern New Mexico University were on the wrong side during twin bill against UAFS on Friday afternoon at Greyhound Baseball Field. The Lions took the opening game of the series 3-1, while UAFS scored a run in the 7th inning to take a 4-3 victory. The Greyhounds now stand at 14-22 overall, holding a 12-22 LSC record. Meanwhile, the Lions improve to 17-17 on the season, with the same conference record.

GAME ONE: UAFS 3, ENMU 1

The Lions worked quickly in the first inning, with a walk, bunt single, and sacrifice bunt placing two runners in scoring position with one out in the first inning. The clean up hitter followed and singled into left field to score both runners and take a 2-0 lead. Eastern found themselves in the same position in the 1^st inning, after a leadoff single from Luciano Terilli and a Demetrio Archuleta walk put two runners on base. However, the Lions forced a ground out, pop up, and a fly out to keep ENMU off the scoreboard.
 
Over the next few innings, both teams struggled to get the offense going. Each team made plays in the field defensively, with ENMU turning a double play and throwing out a runner on the bases. The next score came in the 5^th inning, as a run came home on an error with two outs pushed the score to 3-0. Eastern made one last attempt to comeback in the 7^th inning, with Tucker Gideon starting the inning with a walk. Juan Avila provided a pinch hit single, then Landon Pyles singled to load the bases with no outs. Terilli came up next and drove in a run on a fielder's choice, 3-1. However, UAFS completed the opening win with a double play to end the contest, 3-1.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Lions tallied seven hits, while the Greyhounds grabbed four hits (two occurring in the 7^th inning).
• Four Greyhounds finished with a hit: Avila, Beau Preston, Pyles, and Terilli.
• Gavin Perry tossed effectively for the Greyhounds, throwing a complete game with five strikeouts in the loss. The right-hander allowed two earned runs (three total), giving up seven hits.
• Grant Shankle earned the win, tossing six innings with one run allowed on a pair of hits, four walks, along with five strikeouts. Luke Davenport earned a save, recording the final three outs with two hits allowed.

GAME TWO: UAFS 4, ENMU 3

Both teams picked up a run in the opening frame, a lead-off double advanced to third on a groundout, then scored on a sacrifice fly. The Greyhounds responded in the first two batters, with Terilli hitting a triple, then Archuleta forcing home on a reach on error. Momentum swung to the Greyhounds in the 3^rd inning, starting the top of the frame with a 1-2-3 inning with a 5-4-3 double play ending the half inning. Terilli and Archuleta both singled with one out to put runners on the corners for Gideon. After Archuleta swiped second base, Gideon singled up the middle to plate both runs and put Eastern ahead 3-1.
 
After an empty 4^th inning, the Lions brought the score even with two runs in the 5^th inning. After an opening walk, a single, and a sacrifice put two runners in scoring position with one out. A comebacker to the pitcher cut down the lead runner, but the Lions still had two runners in scoring position. A two-out single to right field brought both runs home to tie the game at 3-3. ENMU had a chance to take the lead in the 6^th inning, with runners on the corners and one out. A bunt attempt to bring the run home was snuffed out by the Lions, throwing out the lead runner. A flyout ended the inning, with the score remaining 3-3 heading to the 7^th.
 
UAFS opened the final inning with a double down the left field line, then a pinch runner entered the game and moved to third on a balk. After a strikeout, a single up the middle brought home the Lions run to retake the lead. The Greyhounds did get the tying run on base with two outs, but the Lions produced the final out to win the game 4-3.

NOTABLE STATS

• Both teams were close for hits, with the Lions posting seven, and the Greyhounds finishing with five.
• Terilli gathered two hits and scored twice, while Gideon had two RBIs and a walk.
• Josaiah Estrella takes a no-decision, allowing three hits, two runs, with a pair of K's. Zach Raichel was given the loss, allowing one run in 2.1 innings on two hits with three strikeouts. Ruger Bravo recorded two outs, allowing a run facing four batters.
• Brayden Ross earned the win, with five hits allowed with three runs and six strikeouts. Logan Grant got the final three outs, allowing a walk during a save effort.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Gavin Perry had another solid start in game one," said Head ENMU Baseball Coach Riley Price. "We knew with the wind blowing in today, it may be a low scoring game and it was going to come down to timely hits and who made the least amount of mistakes. Unfortunately, our bats, base running, nor our defense was enough to get the job done," said Price.

"In game two, Josaiah Estrella was great on the mound for us in his start. Overall, I thought we at least competed much better as a whole, but did not hit well enough to allow for mistakes on defense toward the end," said Price. "At the end of the day, we just have to simply play better baseball to win and perform like we are capable of,".

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Greyhounds and Lions continue the series on Saturday, Apr. 6, beginning at 1 p.m. for a single nine-inning game.