Hounds, Wildcats split pair

Freedom New Mexico

Abilene Christian senior Matt Sullivan kept Eastern New Mexico University at bay for 6 1/3 innings, and got more than enough run support to help the visiting Wildcats collect a 14-3 win for a split of Saturday’s Lone Star Conference baseball doubleheader at Greyhound Field.

The win helped the LSC-leading and seventh-ranked Wildcats salvage a split against the Greyhounds, who rallied to claim a 9-8 win in the opener. The teams will play again today in a 1 p.m. twin bill.

Right fielder Travis Latz, who went 6-for-8 in the doubleheader, broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run homer to left-center off Ismael Solis (1-2) in the third inning. Sullivan (3-0) took care of the rest with four no-hit innings as the Wildcats (27-9, 20-6 LSC) piled up an 11-2 advantage.

The Hounds (18-15, 13-13) got on the board with a two-run single in the second by center fielder Stephen Lopez-Barela, and got their other run on a seventh-inning sacrifice fly from catcher Freddy Carmona.

Solis threw five innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits.

Second baseman Steve Camillucci went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for the Wildcats.

ENMU 9, ACU 8 — The Hounds erased an 8-4 deficit with two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth off reliever Andrew Yacek (3-1).

Second baseman Garrett Cook’s one-out, two-run triple tied the score in the sixth, and he came home on a single to left by third baseman Sean Cruce.

The Greyhounds led 4-0 early, but starter Seth Clabaugh ran into trouble in the fourth inning.

Latz hit a one-out single aand Clabaugh issued two walks to load the bases. Center fielder Thomas Bumpass and catcher Jordan Schmitt collected RBI singles, and a misplayed fly ball in right led to two more runs.

Clabaugh, also the team’s DH in the opener, got the Hounds within striking distance in the fifth on a one-out single to center that just escaped Wildcats starter Cameron Aspeas.

Evan Orsak (5-2) picked up the win with a 1-2-3 sixth, and Jerry Manning earned his fourth save with a scoreless seventh.