Game Recap: Baseball | 2/12/2022 10:30:00 PM | Cameron Brennan  Eastern New Mexico dropped a pair of games to #15 West Texas A&M University on Saturday evening at Greyhound Baseball Field. Eastern dropped the opener 22-1, then came just short of a comeback, 7-6, in game two. The setback puts the Hounds at 1-6 overall, with the same Lone Star Conference record. Meanwhile, the nationally ranked Buffs stay perfect at 5-0, and 3-0 in conference play.

GAME ONE: WT 22, ENMU 1

Eastern were the team to score the games first run. In the 2^nd inning, Braeton Matthews reached on a hit by pitch, and advance to second on an error. After Andres Quintana worked a walk Camden Matthews came to the plate with the bases loaded. C. Matthews produced an RBI groundout, plating the first run of the afternoon.

West Texas A&M would respond in the next half inning, the Buffs posted six hits and produced five runs in the third frame. WT held a 5-1 after 3 innings.

The visiting team blew the game open in the fourth inning of play, hanging a crooked number on the score board. West Texas scored 10 runs in the fourth frame from six hits during the inning, taking a 15-1 advantage after four completed innings.

The Buffaloes added seven more runs before the contest ended, taking the game 22-1 over Eastern

NOTABLE STATS

• Dax Edmonds, Sammy Williamson, B. Matthews, and Quintana all found hits during the game.
• C. Matthews recorded an RBI during the game, and B. Matthews was that lone run scored for the Greyhounds.
• Ruger Bravo is dealt the loss after 3.1 innings pitched, allowing 10 runs (all earned) on 11 hits, and recording a strikeout. Coming out of the bullpen, Robert Nidy faced five batters allowing five runs, Raiden Salas went 1.2 allowing four runs from one hit. Reed Carter made an appearance, tossing two innings and conceding three runs on five hits.
• Nick Marshall picked up the in for West Texas A&M, going five innings and allowing just three hits.

FROM THE SOURCE

“Game one was about as ugly as it gets when nothing goes your way,” said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. “WT worked counts to their favor, and we left the ball over the plate and they made us pay for it. We just weren’t competitive at all on the mound and the score showed it” said Price.

GAME TWO: WT 7, ENMU 6

The Buffs bats started quickly with three runs in the first inning of play. A pair of singles and a walk set up a two-run double to give the Buffs an early 3-0 lead. The Hounds hit back quickly taking advantage of walks to bring a runner home. Cooper Hamilton took ball four to push the runner home, 3-1 Buffs after one inning.

Eastern came back for more in the second frame. With two runners on, Dax Edmonds singled into the right field gap to score one run. Then with the base loaded, Nyles Duren produced a fielder’s choice to send C. Matthews to the plate, tying the game at 3-3. Spencer Roach was then hit by a pitch, sending another run to the plate. Eastern ended the second inning, 4-3.

The Greyhounds lead did not last long, as the Buffs posted four runs in the following inning. West Texas took back the lead, 7-4 over the Hounds. In the bottom half of the third inning, the Hounds got on the base paths quickly. A walk set up Jack Thompson to double into right field, putting runners on third and second with one out. C. Matthews reached on an error sending a runner home, 7-5 WT.

Eastern’s pitching neutralized the Buffs after the third inning, not allowing a run and conceding four hits over the final four innings. Meanwhile, the Hounds chipped away at the WT lead. Singles from Edmonds and Williamson started the bottom of the sixth. Edmonds would come home to score on a wild pitch, placing the game tying run a third base. However, WT would escape after groundout ended the inning, 7-6 WT after six.

The Hounds did not quit as they hit the final frame. An error and a walk put two runners on the bases with just one out in the top of the seventh. With the winning run on first base, WT benefited from a strikeout and a flyout to center field, as the Hounds comeback bid just fell short, 7-6 WT.

NOTABLE STATS

• Edmonds finished 2-4 with an RBI, and scoring twice for the Greyhounds.
• Williamson, Nick Schifftner, and Thompson also popped up with hits. Duren, Roach, and Hamilton each finished with an RBI.
• Damian Acosta takes the loss after allowing seven runs, four earned, from four hits in 2.2 innings of work. Tommy Perez impressed from the bullpen, throwing 4.1 scoreless innings, and allowing just four hits with six strikeouts.
• Colton Charnholm takes the win in 2.0 innings of relief, allowing four runs, two earned. Chris Rodriguez picked up a save for WT, going 1.1 innings with one strikeout and a walk.

FROM THE SOURCE

“I was proud of how the team responded and competed on both sides of the ball,” said Price. At the end, it came down to little things, but we were one hit away from tying or winning this game. We scorched a few balls right at guys that just didn’t fall and were lacking that big hit with runners on base” said Price. “Big kudos to Tommy (Perez). He came in and gave us a chance on the mound, really great to see that from him” said Price. “We can compete with anyone if we put all facets together and play our game. We have a great opportunity to salvage the weekend tomorrow”.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Perez set a season high in innings pitched (4.1) and strikeouts (6).
• Edmonds produced his first career multi-hit game. Thompson registered his second double of the season.
• The Hounds will play the final game of the series tomorrow, Feb. 13. The Buffs and Greyhounds are scheduled for nine innings, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.