3/12/2022 | Baseball | Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TYLER, TEXAS – Shutdown pitching from the Greyhounds helped Eastern New Mexico baseball pick up two wins in a conference doubleheader, 5-3 and 5-1, over UT Tyler on Saturday afternoon at Irwin Field. The Hounds push its win streak to four straight games, with an 8-11 record overall and a LSC standing of 7-10. The Patriots drop to 10-13 on the season, with the same record in conference play.

GAME ONE: ENMU 5, UTT 3

Eastern loaded the bases in the first three batters after Camden Matthews singled to start the game and Dax Edmonds and Sammy Williamson reached on a hit by pitch. ENMU took advantage of the full bases after a fielder’s choice from Spencer Roachscored one run, ENMU 1-0. Then with two runners in scoring position, Cooper Hamilton poked a single to right field to clear the bases and give the Hounds a 3-0 advantage after the first frame.

UT Tyler picked up one run in the bottom of the second, and could have scored more if not for a great defensive play by Cooper Hamilton. With a runner on second and two outs, a single sent the runner home looking to score the second run for UTT. However, Hamilton cut the runner down trying to score to keep the game at 3-1 ENMU after two innings.

The Greyhounds sent another run home in the third inning, after Nick Schifftner hit into a fielder’s choice with runners on second and third to score one run, 4-1 ENMU. UT Tyler brought the score to just one run, after the Patriots scored two runs from an Eastern error. UTT left two runners on base, as the score read 4-3 ENMU after four innings.

Schifftner delivered another RBI in the fifth inning to with two runners on. Williamson scored on the Schifftner single for a 5-3 lead. UTT looked dangerous in the bottom of the sixth with one out and the bases loaded. Nyles Duren got the Hounds out of the inning with a double play to preserve the Hounds advantage.

ENMU worked through a dangerous seventh inning, as the Patriots had the bases loaded with two outs. Eastern ended the game after a line out to center field, taking game one 5-3 over UTT.

NOTABLE STATS

  • The Greyhounds complied seven hits in the game, scoring five runs with four RBI’s. Eastern also stole three bases during the contest.
  • C. Matthews finished 2-4 at the plate with a single and a double. Hamilton and Schifftner each had two RBI’s in the contest.
  • Damian Acosta picked up the win in five innings of work, with four strikeouts and only giving up four hits and three runs (one earned run). William McBride pitched two strong innings in his first save of the season, allowing two hits and no runs.
  • Nick Niebur is dealt the loss with four runs allowed (three earned runs), with three hits in 2.1 innings pitched. The Patriots had three other pitchers deliver with one run allowed in that time.

GAME TWO: ENMU 5, UTT 1

The Hounds bats put a run on the board at the start of the first inning. Three straight singles from Edmonds, Hamilton, and Roach loaded the bases with one out. With Schiffnter at the plate, the Hounds scored two runs after mistakes from the UTT pitching. First, a balk brought home one run, then a wild pitch scored the second run of the inning to hold a 2-0 advantage after the first frame.

Eastern posted three runs in the third after a three two-out hits. With Roach on third base after a single, Andres Quintana poked a single to center field for the first run of the inning, 3-0 ENMU. Then, Braeton Matthews slapped an RBI double to right field, with Duren following with an RBI triple as the Hounds jumped to a 5-0 lead.

UTT broke their scoreless game after a wild pitch with the bases loaded brought home a run, 5-1 ENMU. However, a strikeout and flyout stopped the damage at just one run. Eastern avoided more runs in the fifth inning. The Patriots had the bases loaded with no outs, but the Hounds escaped with no runs allowed. An infield fly, followed by a 4-6-3 double play ended the inning at 5-1 ENMU.

Ruger Bravo brought the Hounds to the end of the game with a complete game effort on the mound, ending the game on a pickoff at first base as the Hounds finished the game 5-1 winners.

NOTABLE STATS

  • Bravo delivered a phenomenal game on the mound, going a complete game with one earned run on seven hits with five strikeouts.
  • At the plate, Hamilton and Quintana both registered two hits, while five other Greyhound hitters collected a base knock. Quintana, B. Matthews, and Duren supplied the RBI’s for ENMU.
  • Bravo picks up his second win of the season, being on the bump for all 21 outs.
  • Harrison Lee takes the defeat after starting the game and allowing all five runs in 2.2 innings pitched. UTT had three other pitchers take the hill, combining for one hit allowed and no runs.

FROM THE SOURCE

“Well the bats came out hot again today and our goal was to strike first against and we did,” said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. “So proud of this group for playing as one unit as today’s wins were both team wins and it took everyone. Our dugout brought the energy all day and hitting was contagious,” said Price. “The defense really steeped up in game two as we made some big plays and pitches in some tight situations. Damian (Acosta) gave us a pretty good start in game one and Ruger (Bravo) went the distance,” said Price. Overall a great day for Greyhound Baseball and looking forward to the opportunity to sweep the series tomorrow!” said Price

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • Bravo has won back to back starts for ENMU, picking up his first complete game in a career long 7.0 IP.
  • The Hounds are on its longest win streak against the Patriots, collecting four wins in a row against UTT. The Patriots still hold the all-time record against the Hounds, 6-4.
  • ENMU held the Patriots to just one run allowed in game two, which is the lowest amount the Hounds have conceded in a game against the Patriots in the all-time series.
  • Allowing just one run in game two, the Hounds set a season low for runs allowed, and three runs in game one tied the previous season low.
  • C. Matthews and Hamilton each had a multi-hit game on the day, both are now tied for the team lead with six multi-hit games on the season.
  • The Greyhounds complete the series tomorrow against UTT with a single nine inning contest beginning at 12 pm (MST).