Greyhounds Rally from 6-0 Deficit to Defeat New Mexico
Highlands, 8-7

PORTALES, NM - Eastern New Mexico University trailed 6-0 after 1 1/2 innings, but rallied for an 8-7 win over visiting New Mexico Highlands University, Wednesday, Apr. 9, at Greyhound Field. ENMU evened the season series with NMHU at 2-2, and improved to 11-33 overall. Highlands dropped to 18-14 on the season.

ENMU still trailed 6-0 after 3 1/2 innings, but scored three runs in the fourth and one run in the fifth to cut the lead to 6-4. NMHU scored once in the sixth inning for a 7-4 lead, only to have Eastern plate four runs in the seventh inning to move in front for good.

The Hounds won despite registering just four hits and no home runs. Eastern took advantage of four walks, three hit batsmen, three wild pitches and an error to fashion the come-from-behind win. Two runs scored on the error, and an ENMU runner came home on each of the wild pitches.

Franco Barrero (Sr., DH/1B, Laredo, TX/Laredo JC) hit an RBI double for the Greyhounds in the fifth inning and Dallas McMann (Sr., C, Amarillo, TX/Randall HS) doubled in a run in the seventh inning. Eastern’s only other RBI was recorded by Steven Romano (Sr., SS/3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate HS), who was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth.

McMann’s double down the right field line drove in Barrero with the tying run. McMann, who advanced to third when NMHU tried to throw out Barrero at the plate, later scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. All four of Eastern’s runs in the seventh were unearned and all four came with two outs.

In fact, all eight of ENMU’s runs were scored with two outs. In the third inning, Highlands put out the first two batters, but Barrero was hit by a pitch and McMann walked to start a 3-run rally. Mike McDuffie (Fr., 3B, Albuquerque, NM/Sandia HS) also walked, then Romano was hit by a pitch, forcing home Barrero. A wild pitch scored McMann, and a walk to Chris Hill (Sr., 2B, Boise, IA/Scottsdale CC) reloaded the bases. Another wild pitch allowed McDuffie to score.

Carlos Aguilar, Jr., went to the mound to replace starting pitcher Steve Stader, who held ENMU hitless, but left with only a 6-3 lead. Aguilar forced an inning-ending ground out by Boe Parr (Fr., C, Santa Fe, NM/Capital HS).

Justin Gee (Fr., OF, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the fifth inning. Gee stole second with one out, but remained at second when Aguilar struck out Boyd Erickson (Jr., OF, Anchorage, AK/Victor Valley CC). Barrero followed with a double to right center, easily driving in Gee on the play. The Cowboys quickly built their 6-0 lead with two runs in the first stanza and four runs in the second. NMHU did not score again until the sixth inning.

In the first, Marcos Ramos pounded an RBI double down the third base line and later scored on a triple to center by Marty Rael. In the second inning, ENMU starter Chris VanZant (Jr., LHP, Las Vegas, NV/Victor Valley CC) gave way to reliever Mike Cervera (Jr., RHP, El Paso, TX/El Paso CC) after two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs.

Brian Fryer brought in the first run of the second stanza with a single through the right side. David Coats added an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Rael drove in the final two runs of the inning on a single to center field.

Cervera gave up just three hits and one run over the next four innings. He struck out three batters and allowed one walk.

Highlands’ final run was scored by Matt Planeta, who doubled with one out in the sixth. He moved to third on an infield single by Rael, and scored when Rael was thrown out stealing second.

Cade Wormington (Fr., RHP, Albuquerque, NM/Manzano HS) overcame a single, an error and two hit batsmen to hold NMHU scoreless in the seventh. The Cowboys had two base stealers thrown out during the inning. David Swinconos (Fr., LHP, Wolfforth, TX/Frenship HS) faced just three batters in the eighth, after receiving solid defensive support on a line drive catch by McDuffie at third and a grab at the fence by Erickson in straightaway center.

Trevor Davis (So., RHP, Denver, CO/Evergreen HS) earned his fourth save of the year by quickly ending the game in the ninth inning. He began by striking out Rael, who came to the plate with four hits in his first four at bats. Pinch-hitter Mark Soriano followed with a single to right field, but rounded the bag a bit too far and was thrown out on a throw from Gee to Parr. The game ended when Davis struck out pinch-hitter Chris Wainhouse.
Wormington (1-0) was credited with the win. NMHU reliever Derek Adams, who entered the game during Eastern’s seventh inning rally, fell to 0-2 with the loss.

No one had more than one hit for ENMU. Even so, Barrero, McMann and Gee each scored two runs for the Greyhounds. Rael’s 4 for 5 performance led Highlands, which also received a 2 for 4 effort from Jason Parsons.

ENMU will return to action on Friday, Apr. 11, in a Lone Star Conference double-header at Tarleton State University. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. (MDT). Eastern and TSU will close out the weekend series with one game on Saturday, Apr. 12, at 11 a.m. (MDT). The Hounds will return home to play NMHU for the final time this season on Tuesday, Apr. 15, at 6 p.m. (MDT).