Game Recap: Baseball | 3/6/2020 9:43:00 PM | Ryan Shumaker
Hounds Unable to Capitalize on Chances in Game One Loss to Falcons
Eastern New Mexico fell to UT Permian Basin by a final score of 5-0 at the Greyhound Baseball Field in game one of a four game series against the Falcons.
The Hounds loaded the bases twice despite just three hits throughout the ball game, but were unable to cash in on the extra chances. Junior James Puga got the start for the Hounds and went five innings while striking out seven batters along the way and surrendered just three earned runs.
Eastern New Mexico was able to draw seven walks throughout the contest to negate a struggling offensive night for the ball club. UT Permian Basin capitalized on a lead-off triple and got the scoring started in the top half of the second inning with an RBI single by Alex Wixson.
An errant throw on the attempt to second base during that play allowed another run to come across on a base hit on the very next at bat. Puga worked out of the jam by striking out the next batter and forcing a fly out to left field to escape the inning with minimal damage despite having baserunners on first and second with one out.
Eastern loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the same frame thanks to a fielding error by the Falcons and a single by senior Ryan Anderson to lead off the scoring threat. Freshman Jude Perea was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but two consecutive strikeouts for the Hounds ended the threat with no runs across.
The Hounds wouldn’t threaten again until the bottom of the ninth thanks to three free bases by the Falcons on an error and two walks. Eastern New Mexico was unable to ultimately make things interesting as UT Permian Basin was able to work out of the inning with a strikeout and a fly out.
Junior Trevor Moses and senior Malcolm Smith were the other two Greyhounds to record hits in the contest for the Hounds. Senior Miles Hilton pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Hounds and allowed just one batter while retiring the other five he faced.
Eastern New Mexico and UT Permian Basin will continue the series tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
