PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Baseball (26-15, 24-15 LSC) fought hard for a doubleheader split on Saturday afternoon against Lubbock Christian (24-17, 23-16 LSC) at Greyhound Baseball Field. Solid pitching dominated game one, leading LCU to a 10-2 victory. During game two, Eastern took their chances and held Lubbock Christian in the late innings to earn a 4-3 win.

GAME ONE: LCU 10, ENMU 2

Eastern was held to just three hits during the seven-inning game, while Lubbock Christian supplied 12 hits to score ten runs. Dominick Cassell, Adrien Martin, and Jordan Rodriguez each finished with a hit, while Beau Preston drew two walks.

Griffin Almond got the start on the mound for Eastern, allowing three runs over 2.1 innings from five hits. Nick Mooney tossed 2.2 innings of relief, allowing three runs on three walks and two hits. Jose Carranza and Jouthan Sierra pitched one inning each, both allowing two runs.

Lubbock Christian wasted no time to get on the scoreboard, with the leadoff batter hitting a home run to left center. LCU picked up runs in the second and third inning to take a 3-0 lead. ENMU were held in check over the first five innings, with no hits and just a few base runners.

The Chaps expanded the lead with five runs in the 6^th inning and two more runs in the 7^th. ENMU did find two consolation runs, with one in each of the final two innings. Cassell broke up the no-hitter with a double into right field, a pair of groundouts forced Cassell to the plate to end the shutout bid. In the 7^th, two singles and a walk loaded the bases, allowing Cassell to pick up an RBI on a bases loaded walk.

GAME TWO: ENMU 4, LCU 3

Lubbock Christian out hit the Greyhounds again, but ENMU took advantage of nine walks and three hit-by-pitches to pick up four early runs. Six different Greyhounds registered a hit in the game, with Luciano Terilli's double being the only extra base hit for ENMU. Willie Ponce had three walks, scoring twice, while four different batters had an RBI.

Josaiah Estrella managed to allow seven hits over six innings, striking out three and walking two to earn the victory on the hill. Julian Lopez tossed the final inning on the mound, earning a save with two strikeouts in four batters faced.

After a walk started the game for ENMU, Ponce stole second and moved to third on a failed pick-off move. Terilli brought him home with a wall-ball double in left to give ENMU a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Martin grounded out to first, sending Terilli to the plate to give ENMU a 2-0 lead. Eastern manufactured another run un the second inning drawing three straight walks with two outs. Anthony Cortese followed with a spinning single down the first base line, as the ball started in foul territory but span back into fair play to score a run for ENMU.

Lubbock Christian ended the shutout in the 3^rd inning, scoring a run on three straight singles. Eastern replied with a run in the next half inning, with three walks and a single loading the bases. Demetrio Archuleta picked up the RBI with a hit-by-pitch, scoring the Greyhounds 4^th run of the game. Lubbock Christian chipped away with two runs in the 5^th, with a 2-RBI single making the score 4-3 ENMU. Over the final two innings, Lubbock Christian reached base on a walk and an error, but Eastern recorded the final six outs to win the game, 4-3.
 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• With the win in game two, ENMU has guaranteed at least a split with the Chaps, the first in program history as conference opponents.
• Estrella picked up his sixth win of the season, winning six of his last seven starts.
• Eastern wraps up the series on Sunday, April 13, facing the Chaps in a nine-inning game beginning at 1 p.m.