he Eastern New Mexico University baseball team rolled to a 10-5 victory over Texas-Permian Basin on a beautiful Friday afternoon in Odessa. With the win, ENMU earns its 30th-win of the season, improving to 30-17 and 8-11 in Lone Star Conference action.
Starting pitcher Austin Paisar earned the win to improve to 6-3. The Leopolis, Wisc., native allowed three runs on five hits with four walks over 5.1 innings. After tying the school-record when he was last on the mound, the right-hander fanned four to earn the victory.
Second baseman Alex DeLaCruz tied the all-time school record, matching Tyler Hayes mark of 61 set in 2008. Jesus Villalobos and Gabriel Vargas each collected three hits in the win while Mike McNicholl tallied three RBI.
The Greyhounds got the scoring started in the top of the first following a Zach Shank leadoff single through the left-side of the infield. After a wild pitch and a groundout, Shank trotted home on a McNicholl single. The Hounds left fielder proceeded to steal second on the ensuing pitch and scored on a Garlind Webster single into center to increase the lead to 2-0.
ENMU poured it on in the second, scoring four runs to take a 6-0 lead. Vargas poked a single through the left-side of the infield and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt from Nicholas Ankerman. Shank picked up his second single in as many innings to plate Vargas. DeLaCruz worked a walk before the duo came home to score on a triple blasted to the warning track by Endy Villalona. McNicholl lifted a sac fly to right, allowing the Hounds to tack on another run.
The Green and Silver went on to add a single run in each of the third and fourth inning. Paisar ran into a little trouble in the bottom of the fourth. The ENMU pitcher surrendered three walks and committed a balk to allow the Falcons to crack the scoreboard. Paisar would work out of the jam, however, with a strikeout.
After surrendering a lone run in the fourth, fifth and sixth, Eastern answered with runs in the seventh and eighth to extend the lead, 10-3.
Reliever Enrique Perez turned in a strong performance out of the bullpen. The Albuquerque, NM, native tossed 3.2 innings, scattering three hits and a walk for two runs to earn his first save of the season.
The Greyhounds are back in action for a doubleheader tomorrow at noon against UTPB. For all the latest news on ENMU athletics, follow @ENMUBaseball and @ENMUAthletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
-Eastern New Mexico University-
Baseball
Will Edwards