Hounds gain series split at NW Oklahoma

ALVA, Okla. — Junior right-hander Jesse Garcia-Perez pitched five innings of three-hit relief and junior Mark Wallace belted a pair of solo home runs as Eastern New Mexico University’s baseball team defeated Northwestern Oklahoma State 11-6 on Tuesday to gain a split of their two-game series.

The Greyhounds (9-17), who were routed 16-1 on Monday, took a 6-1 lead over the Rangers with a five-run third highlighted by Tyler Hayes’ two-run double and Matt Hinojosa’s two-run single. But NWOSU (15-12) chased ENMU starter Ian Thurman-Kelly with a five-run rally in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer by catcher Billy Cox and a three-run shot by designated hitter Jesse Mason, the latter the first hitter faced by Garcia-Perez.

Eastern regained the lead in the top of the fourth on a two-out, two-run double to right by Ethan Hill. Wallace added his first two homers of the season in the sixth and eighth innings, and the Hounds also scored in the seventh on a triple by Josh Kuchta and an infield single by Brett Scherer.

Garcia-Perez walked one, hit one and struck out three. Junior Trevor Davis took over for Perez in the eighth and finished the game, allowing no hits and striking out three.

ENMU pounded 14 hits off Jared Smith (0-3) and three relievers, with everyone in the batting order hitting safely. Center fielder Joey Aguilar went 3-for-5 with a triple, while Hinojosa and left fielder Matt Elliott and each had a pair of hits.

ENMU 11, Northwestern Oklahoma 6

ENMU 015 201 110 —11 14 3

NW Oklahoma 105 000 000 — 6 12 1

Ian Thurman-Kelly, Jesse Garcia-Perez (3), Trevor Davis (8) and Brett Scherer; Jared Smith, Thomas Royce (3), Michael Cervera (4), Billy Shea (8) and Billy Cox. W — Garcia-Perez (2-3). L — Cervera. DP — Northwestern Oklahoma 1. LOB — ENMU 6, Northwestern Oklahoma 11. 2B — ENMU, Matt Elliott, Tyler Hayes, Ethan Hill, Matt Hinojosa. Northwestern Oklahoma, Jose Tellez 2. 3B — ENMU, Joey Aguilar, Josh Kuchta. HR — ENMU, Mark Wallace (2). Northwestern Oklahoma, Cox (12), Jesse Mason (3). T — 2:45. A — 55.