Greyhounds open series with win

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Ben Monticello continued Eastern New Mexico University’s early-season run of good pitching on Friday.

The senior right-hander from Windsor, Calif., tossed six shutout innings for his second win of the young season as the Greyhounds blanked New Mexico Highlands 7-0 in the opener of a four-game series at Greyhound Field.

link Tony Bullocks: CMI staff photo

ENMU senior Ben Monticello pitches to New Mexico Highlands University’s Matthew Chavez during Friday’s series opener at Greyhound Field. Monticello tossed six shutout innings for his second win of the season in a 7-0 victory over the Cowboys.

The win evened the all-time series between the rivals 45-45, and marked ENMU’s first shutout of the Cowboys. NMHU had the only previous shutout in the series, coming in the 2010 season opener.

ENMU (4-1) manufactured runs all day against the Cowboys (2-2), hitting three sacrifice flies — two by designated hitter Bryan Pinocci — and using two sacrifice bunts to help set up rallies.

Meantime, Monticello did what you’d like your ace to do, allowing three hits and four other baserunners after pitching out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the first.

“I didn’t keep my changeup down today, but my other pitchers were working,” said Monticello, who worked seven innings in last weekend’s season-opening 7-2 win over Adams State. “I settled in a little bit (after the first). That first inning is a feel-out inning, but I always have faith in my teammates.”

Senior left-hander Aaron Anderson earned a three-inning save, although he walked three and allowed two hits. He managed to squeeze out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth.

Monticello said he enjoys being the No. 1 starter, although there’s pressure that goes with it.

“The first game (of a series), you go out and set a tone,” he said. “My coaches and teammates have faith in me.”

ENMU has given up 12 runs in the first five games, including 10 in 25 2/3 innings by the starters.

“That’s been pleasing to see,” first-year coach David Gomez said. “Monticello’s been on fire, throwing strikes and being competitive.”

Senior left fielder Ryan Forkel led an eight-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Pinocci also scored a run despite not having an official at-bat, drawing a walk and getting hit by a pitch.

Shortstop Brett Ackerman, batting ninth, drove in his team-leading sixth run with a sixth-inning single through the box.

“Every time we get someone in scoring position, he seems to drive him in,” Gomez said. “Brett’s a team guy. Where he’s hitting in the lineup doesn’t matter to him.”

ENMU had the leadoff man on in each of the first five innings.

“Highlands is a good team, so when you get opportunities to score runs you need to do that,” Gomez said.

Cowboys right-hander Erick McRae (0-2), rocked for 10 hits and 10 runs (seven earned) in a season-opening 18-8 loss to Lubbock Christian on Sunday, pitched reasonably well but had a tough time keeping the efficient Hounds off the board. He went seven innings and 100 pitches, allowing six hits and five runs (four earned).

The teams play a pair of seven-inning games starting at 1 p.m. today, then wrap up the series with a nine-inning contest on Sunday.