CANYON, TEXAS —Facing Angelo State’s (33-18) closer in the top of the ninth inning, Nicholas Ankerman and Zach Shank had back-to-back hits as the Eastern New Mexico University baseball team (24-23) charged to a 7-4 lead. The Greyhounds held on in the bottom of the inning and earned the first postseason win in program history.

What it Means
The game was the 1,259th in program history and the 483rd win
ENMU is 1-2 in the LSC Tournament and has led in the last two tournament games
The win was Head Coach David Gomez’s 108th at ENMU

In the Series
The Hounds claimed their third win over Angelo State in the last four meetings, a feat last accomplished in 2015
The win avenged a 10-4 decision in the 2009 tournament opener, in Abilene, Texas
ENMU is 1-1 against the Rams in the LSC Tournament

On the Mound
Enrique Perez delivered 5.1 quality innings and limited ASU to one run on four hits
Levi Shandrew tossed three innings, fanned three and scattered five hits to improve to 2-0 and earn ENMU’s first postseasaon win
Keenan Dodd made his first relief appearance since February 4, 2017 and induced a game-ending double play to earn the first save of his career
Shannon Broussard started for Angelo State and tossed 4.1 innings before giving way to Shane Browning
Rholl suffered the loss and faced three batters in the ninth

Dramatic Rally
Angelo State tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run blast from Brad Mathiowitz and plated a third run on a ground out from Jacob Boston to take a 4-3 lead
All-Lone Star Conference closer Kellen Rholl entered the game in the top of the ninth
Centerfielder Malcolm Smith led off with a single through the left side of the infield
Rholl had Ankerman 0-2 after a pair of bunt attempts to advance the tying run
After working the count 2-2, Ankerman crushed a game-tying RBI double to right centerfield
Zach Shank followed with a RBI single to give the Hounds the lead
Alex DeLaCruz and Endy Villalona followed with RBI singles to give ENMU a 7-4 lead

Earlier in the Game
Villalona drew a one-out walk in the top of the third and advanced when Eurick Perez was struck by a pitch
Julian Heredia’s single to left field staked the Hounds to a 1-0 lead
After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Perez came home on a passed ball to give ENMU a 2-0 lead
Mathiowetz delivered a one-out RBI single in the Ram sixth to cut ENMU’s lead to 2-1
Shank led off the Greyhound seventh with a walk and took second on a wild pitch
When he stole third base, Shank forced an errant throw by catcher Alex Salcido, which allowed him to score to extend the lead to 3-1
Angelo State’s first three batters reached and scored in the eighth, with Mathiowetz’s homer tying the game

Up Next
The Eastern New Mexico University baseball team will play top-seeded West Texas A&M on Friday in the LSC Tournament semifinals
The contest at Wilder Park is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT