KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Eastern New Mexico University baseball team surrendered eight unanswered runs en-route to an 8-1 loss at the hands of Texas A&M-Kingsville on Thursday night in the series opener. After the lost, ENMU moves to 27-12 on the season and 5-6 in Lone Star Conference action.
At the dish, Jesus Villalobos drove home the Greyhounds lone run on an RBI double in the top of the first. After Zach Shank roped a leadoff single to left to start the game, Endy Villalona worked a one-out walk to move Shank into scoring position. Villalobos smashed a double down the left field line to score Shank easily from second and stake the Hounds a 1-0 lead.
Starting pitcher Scott Klein was tagged with the loss after struggling with his command early in the outing. The right-hander gave up six runs (three earned) on five hits and five walks over three innings of work before being lifted for Lane Saunders in the fourth. Saunders surrendered two runs on two hits and two walks while picking up a strikeout.
Relievers Jonathan Joy and Aiden Hernandez combined for 3.1 shutout innings of relief to close out the game. Joy scattered three hits and two walks over the fifth and sixth innings while Hernandez fanned four over the final two innings of work.
The Greyhounds return to the diamond on Friday against Texas A&M-Kingsville for a double-header. First pitch in game one with the Javelinas is tabbed for 2 p.m. For all the latest news on ENMU athletics, follow @ENMUBaseball and @ENMUAthletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
-Eastern New Mexico University-
Baseball
Will Edwards
