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St. Ed's sweeps 'Hounds in season-opening series

AUSTIN, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University’s baseball team became the school’s first sports squad to play since last March over the weekend, and the results were not pretty.

After getting run-ruled twice on Friday, though, the Greyhounds were a bit more competitive in Saturday’s Lone Star Conference series finale against host St. Edward’s. Designated hitter Blake Holub highlighted the Hilltoppers’ five-run first with a three-run double, and St. Ed’s went on to claim a 6-3 victory.

In Friday’s games, St. Edward’s pitchers combined for 28 strikeouts — including 13 by Holub in just five innings in the opener — en route to 15-4 and 12-1 victories.

On Saturday, ENMU broke on top with a pair of first-inning runs, but the lead didn’t last long.

The game settled down the rest of the way. Left-hander Cooper Hamilton relieved ENMU starter Damian Acosta with two outs in the bottom of the fourth and restored some order, working 4 1/3 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit with three strikeouts and no walks.

Both teams finished with seven hits. Junior Nicholas Tamez went 2-for-4 for ENMU with a pair of runs scored, while Cullen Ainsworh and Chase Cos each hit safely twice for the Hilltoppers.

St. Ed’s starter Jesse Reed went 5 2/3 innings for the win. Three relievers combined to hold the Hounds hitless the rest of the way.

Friday

St. Edward’s 15, ENMU 4 (Game 1) — The Hilltoppers broke open a 1-0 game with an eight-run third.

Ten players had at least one hit, 10 drove in at least one run and 13 scored at least one run in a well-distributed attack against five ENMU pitchers. Second baseman Carlo Figueroa and third baseman Eric Worden each collected a pair of hits for St. Ed’s.

Holub allowed three hits and two runs (one earned). The Hounds broke through in the fifth when junior Trevor Moses singled home a run and another scored on a Hilltoppers error.

ENMU tacked on its final tallies on a two-run, bases-loaded single by sophomore Andres Quintana with two out in the top of the seventh off reliever Garrett Phillips, who had five strikeouts over the final two frames. Shortstop Daniel Hunt went 2-for-2 and scored twice for the Hounds.

Junior right-hander James Puga was chased during the Hilltoppers’ third-inning eruption and absorbed the loss.

St. Edward’s 12, ENMU 1 (Game2) — In this one, the Hilltoppers scored in all six innings with 11 players combining for the team’s 12 hits. Meantime, eight players drove in at least one run and nine players scored.

Freshman right-hander Jack Granick went six innings for St. Ed’s, allowing four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Shortstop Morgan Allen had three RBIs for the Hilltoppers with a bases-loaded walk in the second and a two-run homer in the fifth.

The Hounds got on the board in the fifth when freshman Matthew Kory led off with a double, took third on an error and scored on sophomore Camden Matthews’ single to left.

Starter Jason Vasil took the loss for the Hounds, allowing four runs (two earned) in one-plus innings.

ENMU’s 36-game, all-LSC schedule consists of 12, three-game series, with doubleheaders on Friday and single games on Saturday. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the state, the Hounds will spend their entire campaign on the road.

Next weekend, the Hounds are slated to take on rival West Texas A&M in Canyon.

 

 
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