Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
FORT SMITH, Ark. — Eastern New Mexico University rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth, capped by a two-out, two-run double from freshman Camden Matthews, and the Greyhounds salvaged their four-game Lone Star Conference baseball series finale with a 7-6 win over Arkansas-Fort Smith on Sunday.
The Lions (12-6, 12-6 LSC) threatened in the bottom of the ninth with two on and one out, but pinch-runner Baxter Mays was ruled out at third base for interference on a groundout to ENMU’s Trevor Moses, resulting in a game-ending double play.
ENMU (3-15, 3-15) was charged with seven errors in the contest, and the Lions stranded 14 baserunners.
Senior right-hander Blake Frye (1-1) went 4 2/3 innings for the win in relief of starter James Puga.
Frye entered with the bases loaded and ENMU leading 2-1. He surrendered a three-run triple to Fort Smith’s Tristan Kalina and an RBI single by shortstop Ryan Flake, but he allowed just one unearned run and three hits over the final four innings, finishing with seven strikeouts.
First baseman Tristan Bowden gave the Hounds a 2-1 lead with his first homer of the season in the fourth inning. Bowden, Moses, designated hitter Rio Granger and right fielder Alex Kuhn each had two of the team’s 12 hits.
Fort Smith used six pitchers in the contest, including three trying to stop the bleeding in the ninth. Nico Sharp (0-2) worked to only one batter, but the man he faced scored the winning run and saddled Sharp with the loss.
Flake had three of the Lions’ nine hits.
The Hounds return to Greyhound Field this weekend for a four-game LSC series against Texas-Permian Basin, starting with a 6 p.m. clash on Friday.
Arkansas-Fort Smith 7, ENMU 3 (Saturday, second game) — The Lions completed a doubleheader sweep and clinched a series win in Saturday’s seven-inning nightcap, posting a pair of three-run innings.
The Hounds left nine men on base in the contest — three each in the first, fourth and seventh.
ENMU catcher Mario Armendariz hit a one-out homer in the top of the second, but the Lions took a 3-1 lead in the bottom half and never looked back.
Lions freshman right-hander Trevor Johnson (1-1) allowed 12 hits and labored through a complete game, getting ENMU freshman Blake Carter on a groundout to shortstop to end it with the sacks full after giving up four consecutive two-out singles. He walked one and struck out six.
Brooks Sunny went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice fly for Fort Smith. Each team had four players with a pair of hits.
