Recap: Baseball | 2/7/2020 8:16:00 PM | Zac Alfers

– PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico baseball dropped game one of its home opening series 6-2 to Texas A&M International Friday night.

The Greyhounds wasted no time plating the game’s first run as they broke up the tie ball game with an RBI single from third baseman Joseph Zubia in the bottom of the first. TAMIU answered with a four-run second inning before adding to their lead with runs in the third and eighth innings.

Designated hitter Rio Granger recorded his first RBI of his collegiate career in the bottom of the second which trimmed the deficit to two runs. The Green and Silver tallied six hits in the ball game but struggled to string them together or capitalize with runners in scoring position.

Center Fielder Malcom Smith began the game with a single through the left side of the infield and was able to utilize his speed as he easily stole second base the next at bat. Smith advanced to third on a grounder to the second baseman and would later score as Zubia drilled the ball down the left field line.

The Hounds started the second frame off with a run as well following a lead off double by left fielder Blake Frye, his first extra base hit of the season. Two batters later a groundout from Granger drove Frye in from third as the Dustdevil second baseman had no chance for a play at the plate.

Second baseman Blake Carter recorded his first hit as a member of the Green and Silver as he knocked a double into deep right center to begin the top of the fifth. Smith finished the day with his second multi-hit game of the year and also stole two bases.

Redshirt sophomore Ethan Coombes began the game for the High Plains squad on the mound and had all his pitches working for him as he fanned nine batters in seven innings of action. Coombes’ nine strikeouts is tied for the third-most in a single game amongst Lone Star Conference competitors in the early part of the 2020 season.

Coming in to close out the ballgame was McPherson College transfer Shaun Watson as he allowed just one hit and tallied a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
The Greyhounds head back to the field on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.