CANYON, Texas – During a frigid doubleheader at Wilder Park, Eastern New Mexico Baseball (5-6, 5-6 LSC) fell in a pair of close conference games against West Texas A&M (6-3, 6-3 LSC) on Saturday afternoon. The Buffs took the opening game in extra innings, winning on a walk-off bunt, 5-4 (8 Inn.), while the Greyhounds comeback fell short in the second game against West Texas A&M, 7-4.
GAME ONE: WT 5, ENMU 4 (8 Inn.)
The Greyhound bats took advantage of the high winds during the opening game, with
Daniel Pruitt and
Kyle Kiernan both hitting 2-run home runs. In total, Eastern finished with nine hits with Pruitt hitting a double and home run, while
Willie Ponce gathered a double and single.
On the hill,
Nick Mooney tossed 5.1 innings, surrendering four runs (two earned), and striking out four batters.
Adrian Rubio delivered two relief innings, giving up three hits and allowing one run.
The teams were scoreless in the first two innings, with the Buffs scoring first in the third inning, playing small ball to produce the run. WT picked up another run in the 4
th inning, taking advantage of a throwing error in the Greyhounds defense to go up 2-0. However, Pruitt tied up the contest with a two-run blast in the 5
th. Kiernan started the inning with a walk, setting up Pruitt to bring the score level. The tie score didn't last long, with WT picking up a run in the bottom of the inning. In the 6th inning, Kiernan supplied his own 2-run blast to give Eastern the lead, but West Texas A&M replied with a run to tie the game at 4-4. After a blank 7
th inning, a leadoff double for WT put the winning run in scoring position in the 8
th. Back-to-back singles secured the win for WT in walk-off fashion.
GAME TWO: WT 7, ENMU 4
Seven of the nine hitters for the Greyhounds supplied a base hit, while
Anthony Cortese finished with two hits.
Jalen Freeman brought home two RBIs to lead the team, while
Adrien Martin had the only extra base hit for the Greyhounds (double).
Cole Lancaster got the start for Eastern on the mound, allowing six earned runs from seven hits.
Josaiah Estrella allowed one run in one inning of work, while
Marc Rios surrendered a hit in one inning.
Eastern wasted no time to get on the score board, with
Luciano Terilli and Kiernan leading off with singles. Terilli later ran home on a pass ball to give Eastern a 1-0 lead. West Texas A&M struck back with three runs in the 2
nd inning, scoring the runs on a pair of walks and a pair of doubles. The Buffs extended their lead with three runs in the 4
th and another in the 5
th to lead 7-1. However, Eastern provided a small comeback over the final two innings. In the 6
th inning, ENMU loaded the bases with one out for Freeman to score a pair of runs with a single. Martin followed with a sacrifice fly to bring Eastern within three runs after six innings. ENMU did load the bases in the 7
th inning, getting the tying run on base, but WT got out of the jam to win the second game.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Tai Phetluangsy took the win for the Buffs in the opening game, while Rubio is given the loss on the walkoff. In game two, Lancaster takes his first loss of the season, while Chase Weaver picked up their first win on the season. Phetluangsy pitched the final 1.1 innings to earn a save.
- Pruitt and Kiernan both hit their first home runs of the season, while Pruitt had their first multi-hit game of the season. Freeman grabbed their first multi-RBI game of the season during the second game.
- Eastern hopes come away with the get away game tomorrow, facing West Texas A&M in the series finale on Sunday, February 16, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. (MST) / 1 p.m. (CST).
