Hounds open season with pair of wins

ODESSA, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University's baseball team opened its season on Friday in the Texas-Permian Basin tournament with a couple of firsts — beating the host Falcons and Incarnate Word, both for the first time in the program's history.

Junior left fielder Luis Quinones and junior third baseman Daniel Binz each delivered a pair of two-hit games as the Greyhounds pummeled UTPB 13-1, then rode a combined four-hitter from right-handers Ryan Boydstun and David Johnson for a 2-1 victory over UIW.

ENMU is now 1-3 all-time against both squads.

Ironically, Incarnate Word (0-2) was the preseason favorite in the eight-team Lone Star Conference race while the Hounds were picked to finish last.

Boydstun, a freshman, worked six innings, allowing three hits and striking out nine while surviving five walks before Johnson, a sophomore, closed it out.

Quinones hit an RBI single in the bottom of the third to stake ENMU to a 1-0 lead, then Binz broke a 1-1 tie with a one-out, run-scoring single in the fourth after senior designated hitter Mitch Wolfe walked and stole second.

In the first game, UTPB (1-2) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third before the Hounds erupted for six runs in the top of the fourth to take control.

Senior right-hander Andrew Martin went seven innings to earn the win, and senior Joe Jones finished.

ENMU wraps up play in the two-day event today with a 9:30 a.m. (MST) clash against rival New Mexico Highlands.