Greyhounds take three from Cameron

The Greyhounds finished off their weekend on a sour note, but their pitching gave them enough for a series win over Cameron.

The visiting Aggies routed Eastern New Mexico 19-7 in Saturday’s nightcap to keep from getting swept in the four-game Lone Star Conference crossover series.

In the previous three games, all Greyhound wins, the Hound pitching staff allowed five runs on 17 hits. Saturday’s second game saw Cameron (7-5) tally 19 runs on 22 hits.

“They’re good, they can hit,” Greyhound coach Phil Clabaugh said. “It showed us how well we really threw it in the first three games.”

Cameron jumped out to an 8-0 lead after two innings, and scored six runs on a two-out rally in the second inning. The Greyhounds cut the lead to one, but a two-run triple from Steve Clark sparked a five-run inning that kept the Aggies ahead.

Clark led the Aggies, going 3-for-6 with six RBIs and came a double away from hitting for the cycle.

“What we rely on is our hitting,” first-year Aggies coach Todd Holland said. “Our pitchers threw wonderfully on the first day, but when you can’t hit, it’s going to be a long day in the yard.”

The Aggie pitching staff gave up just five runs in Friday’s doubleheader, but lost 4-1 and 1-0.

J.W. Koweno picked up the win in Saturday’s nightcap in relief, allowing one run in five innings of work after starting pitcher Garrett Ritter was knocked out before recording an out in the third.

Keith Baldarez took the loss for ENMU, with eight runs (five earned) on 10 hits in his 1 2/3 innings of work.

Clabaugh admitted that the Greyhounds ran out of pitching in the final game, and the point was punctuated with a long homer in the fifth from Cameron designated hitter Kenneth Cox.

Despite the loss, Clabaugh was pleased his team could get on a roll, especially against a LSC North Division opponent.

“They’re a Lone Star Conference team,” Clabaugh said. “Everybody wants to sweep, but let’s be real. Three out of four, we’ll take that.

“We’ve still got to get guys to swing a little better, but I’m OK with how we played.”

First Game

ENMU 8, Cameron 4

Centerfielder Joey Aguilar went 2-for-2, and hit a solo homer that started a five-run fifth inning for the Greyhounds.

Trevor Davis missed out on a complete game, going 6 1/3 innings. He gave up three of his four runs in the seventh before giving way to Jesse Garcia-Perez.

Brandon Wilkerson took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits. He walked three Greyhound hitters.

Friday

First Game

ENMU 4, Cameron 1

A two-run double by right fielder Boyd Erickson in the third was all the offense Kelly Crain needed in a complete-game win.

Crain allowed one run on five hits, with seven strikeouts and three walks. Derek Bennett took the loss, also going the distance. Bennett, the LSC North pitcher of the week, gave up four runs on six hits with two strikeouts.

Second Game

ENMU 1, Cameron 0

Pinch-hitter Gilbert Alvarado hit a two-out single to end a pitchers’ duel, allowing Brett Scherer to score the winning run.

Garcia Perez picked up the win in relief, allowing one hit in three innings after relieving Ian Thurman-Kelly. Thurman-Kelly, making his first start of the year, allowed three hits and notched seven strikeouts.

Allen Mitchell was the hard-luck loser for Cameron, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out eight in his 6 2/3 innings of work.