Pitching struggles as Hounds drop pair

Staff report

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — After getting a strong pitching performance from senior right-hander Cody Pope in Friday’s series opener, things went south for Eastern New Mexico University’s baseball team on Saturday.

The Greyhounds hit enough, scoring 22 runs on 28 hits in a pair of seven-inning games, but New Mexico Highlands joined the party and the Cowboys managed to pull out a 12-11, 17-11 sweep.

The teams, now both 3-3 for the season, wrap up the four-game set today with one nine-inning game, set for a noon start.

Highlands led 10-5 in the opener after scoring five times in the bottom of the fourth, but ENMU pulled even with two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth, the latter capped by sophomore third baseman Daniel Ward’s second homer of the season, a two-run shot to center field.

The Cowboys regained the lead in the bottom half on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Joe Cervantes and designated hitter Omar Garcia’s second home run of the season, coming off sophomore right-hander Jonathan Joy (0-1).

ENMU then got an RBI double from center fielder Charles Sandberg Jr. — his third two-bagger of the game — and had runners at second and third with one out. But Morgan McCasland, the Cowboys’ fourth pitcher, earned his first save by striking out Blake Cooper and Dylan Nault.

ENMU third baseman Keenan Dodd’s three-run homer tied it in the top of the fourth before Highlands put up a five-spot in the bottom half. ENMU outhit the Cowboys 18-12, with Sandberg and Dodd each collecting three hits.

Highlands then scored four runs in each of the first three innings and led 14-4 before the Hounds put together a seven-run fifth in which they sent 12 men to the plate. Catcher Julian Heredia had the big blow, a three-run homer, but the Hounds left two runners in scoring position.

Highlands came back with a three-run fifth, and reliever Chance Sharp shut the Hounds out over the final two innings despite giving up four hits.

ENMU finished with 10 hits, led by left fielder Clyde Kendrick with a single, double and triple in four at-bats.