Baseball 1/22/2020 11:49:00 AM Zac Alfers
Baseball Looks to Prove Doubters Wrong; LSC Preseason Poll Released
Eastern New Mexico baseball has been selected to finish 14th in the 2020 Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll, decided on by coaches and media representatives from across the league.
The Hounds earned 64 total points and with a revamped lineup will embrace the role of underdog as they face nothing but LSC competition this spring which includes seven home series. Eastern finished with a 15-33 overall record last season but will get a crack at new conference opponents with the league expansion and absorption of the former Heartland Conference.
Angelo State received 27 of the 35 first place votes and 479 total points as the Rams are predicted to repeat as the LSC champs. ASU finished 2019 with a 46-12 record before having its season ended by Colorado Mesa in the NCAA DII South Central Super Regional.
West Texas A&M (454), Lubbock Christian (396), Texas A&M-Kingsville (371) and St. Edward’s (327) round out the top five spots.
Head Coach Riley Price will begin his first season at the helm of the Greyhound baseball program and will bring a new-found energy to the squad. Eastern returns 16 players including nine seniors while Price has brought in ten transfers and 14 freshmen.
Senior Malcolm Smith returns to the fold as the Hounds everyday center fielder after starting all 48 games in 2019. Smith hit .208 from the plate and finished with a .324 on base percentage with 31 hits, 31 runs and 21 RBIs. The Alta Loma, Calif. native also led the team with 21 stolen bases on 25 attempts.
After seeing action in 28 games at the designated hitter position last season, senior Joseph Zubia will look to carve out a bigger role for the Hounds in 2020 as he looks to take over as the starting third baseman. Last year, Zubia finished with a .284 batting average with 23 hits and added 16 runs and 11 RBIs. He swiped 11 bases and also recorded eight multi-hit games.
On the mound the Green and Silver will look to redshirt sophomore Ethan Coombes who saw action in 14 games and made five starts during his freshman campaign. Last season Coombes was used more as a reliever but will be transitioning to a starting pitcher role. The Roswell, N.M. native tossed 37.1 innings and fanned 37 batters while allowing just 20 walks a season ago.
Angelo State transfer Trevor Moses highlights the new additions for the Hounds and will play a pivotal role in the success of the team. The redshirt junior sat out for most of last season but hit .299 in 97 at bats in 2018 for the Rams. The utility player from Oakdale, Minn. appeared in 34 games with 29 starts and finished with 29 hits, 18 RBIs, 15 runs and four round trippers.
Sophomore Alex Kuhn began last season on a hot streak, hitting .424 with a .576 slugging and a .513 ob-base percentage in 18 games before having his freshman campaign cut short due to an injury. Another up-and-coming underclassman is freshman Rio Granger from Carlsbad N.M. who is battling for a spot in the outfield.
The Hound will be tested early as they open the 2020 season with a three-game series against Angelo State Friday, Jan. 31 with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
