PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico University baseball junior pitcher Austin Paisar hurled a gem, leading the Greyhounds to a 7-2 upset of 11th-ranked Angelo State on a chilly Friday evening at Greyhound Field. The Leopolis, Wisc., native fanned a program-record 14 batters to help ENMU improve to 28-15 on the season and 6-9 in Lone Star Conference play.

The right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks while saving the bullpen in the 145-pitch performance. Paisar tied Mark Jackson’s record of 14, set against Wayland Baptist on March 3, 1993.

“Austin was lights out tonight,” ENMU Head Coach David Gomez said. “We have a ton of respect for Angelo State and their hitters. He did a great job of attacking the strike zone and getting ahead in the count. We decided to shake things up a bit this weekend and move him into the Friday night slot and he didn’t disappoint.”

Offensively, the Hounds did an outstanding job of working the count early against the reigning LSC Pitcher of the Week, Matt Shannon, chasing the right hander from the game after just three innings of work. Overall, ENMU drew nine walks against the Rams. Endy Villalona went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, a run scored and an RBI while Zach Shank set the table at the top of the lineup, going 1-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored.

ENMU raced out to a 1-0 lead in the home half of the first against Shannon. Shank and Alex DeLaCruz worked a pair of walks to start the inning before both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. With one out, Jesus Villalobos produced an RBI on a groundout to break the scoring seal.

The Greyhounds tacked on two more in the second and third innings to allow Paisar to pitch with a sizable cushion. Following a pair of walks to open the second, Nicholas Ankerman dropped down a perfect safety-squeeze bunt to bring home Mike McNicholl before Shank rifled a single down the left field line to score Chris Padilla. In the third, Garlind Webster and Gabriel Vargas each picked up an RBI on singles to center and left, respectively.

After Angelo State cut into the lead with a run in the fourth, the Green and Silver responded with another run to regain a five-run advantage in the fifth. Garlind Webster blasted a double into the left-center alley to start the frame and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Padilla.

Over his final four innings of work, Paisar locked in and fanned seven Rams to close out the game, including striking out the side in the top of the sixth.

The Greyhounds are back in action tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader against the Rams. First pitch of game one is tabbed for 1 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