AUSTIN, Texas – Eastern New Mexico baseball dropped an eight-inning contest to (RV) St. Edwards, 16-6, on Sunday afternoon.

"Had a good start with the offense and then continued to give up big innings with a lot of free bases," said head coach Riley Price after the game. "We have to compete better in the box and play like we are capable of."

Eastern New Mexico started the game on a strong note with a one-out single from Kiyose, Japan native Eiji Sawamura. Sawamura proceeded to earn a pair of steals to advance to third base. Adrien Martin helped ENMU's cause and the Greyhounds put runners on the corners with a walk. With two-outs, Gabriel Watson smashed a ball over the left field fence and gave ENMU a 3-0 advantage.

St. Edward's responded in the bottom half of the inning. They scored four runs on four hits to take the lead. SEU combined for 14 runs scored in the first inning alone over three games against Eastern this weekend.

The Hounds were held scoreless all the way into the seventh inning of the ball game. Strong pitching from Carson Blakeley led the Hilltoppers in the contest. He struck out nine ENMU batters and gave up three hits and three walks over 4.2 innings of work. Eastern did get to Blakely late in the fifth inning with a hit by pitch and two walks, but it did not matter as the Hounds left all three runners stranded to close out the frame.

SEU scored in six of their eight innings played and held a 15-3 lead going into the seventh inning. To avoid a run-rule defeat, ENMU needed to put that margin within single digits. They did just that. Sawamura led off the inning with a solo homer to deep center field. From there, Adrien Martin got on base via a walk. Back-to-back walks for Gabriel Watson and Grant Gilooly helped fill the bases for Eastern. Then, Isaiah Figueroa hit a clutch base-clearing double down the left field line to put the game within single digits.

Eastern New Mexico managed to leave the Hilltoppers off the scoreboard for an additional five outs, but that fifth out was a sacrifice fly that ended the game and gave SEU the 16-6 run-rule victory in eight innings of play.

The Greyhounds will now prepare for a four-game series against West Texas A&M set for Feb. 13-15. Friday's first pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Greyhound Baseball Field.