WT takes series win over Hounds

PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University’s pitching held down the potent West Texas A&M offense over the weekend in baseball action.

The Greyhounds, though, struggled on offense and, at times, in the field, and lost three of the four games.

The Buffaloes, ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division II, built an early lead on Sunday and held on for a 6-4 win over the Hounds at Greyhound Field.

WT (21-5 overall) was limited to a .242 batting average and 12 runs in the four games.

Junior right-hander Noah Draper (1-0) went six innings for the win, walking one and striking out eight while allowing only an unearned run. Three relievers finished, with senior left-hander Justin McAllister earning his sixth save of the season and third in the series with a four-out effort.

Catcher Luis Amaro’s two-out RBI double put WT in front in the first, and the Buffaloes added a three-spot with no hits in the second to chase ENMU starter Bryce Welborn (4-1). He hit John Baiada to start the inning, then walked four in a row before being pulled for right-hander Enrique Perez.

Perez got out of the mess with just one more run scoring and pitched two more scoreless innings.

The Buffs tacked on single runs in the seventh and eighth. ENMU cut its deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh, getting three hits and tallying on a run-scoring double by Zach Shank and an RBI single by Alex DeLaCruz.

WT outhit the Hounds 11-10 and stranded 10 baserunners to eight for ENMU. The teams combined for 21 strikeouts, running the total for the four games to 90.

Leadoff man Jimmy Cuillos had two RBIs for WT, while right fielder Nick Canas, third baseman Chad Brown, shortstop Aaron Vallance and Amaro all had two hits.

Shank, who had two RBIs, and designated hitter Paul Tapia both went 3-for-4 for ENMU. Shortstop Endy Villalona added a pair of hits.

The Hounds return to action in a four-game conference series this weekend against Cameron at Lawton, Oklahoma, beginning with a 2 p.m. single game on Friday.