Lubbock Christian Defeats Greyhounds, 15-0
Chaparrals Score 12 Runs after 2-Out Error in 3rd Inning

PLAINVIEW, TX – The Eastern New Mexico University baseball team gave up eight walks, and Lubbock Christian University scored 12 runs following an error with two outs in the third inning, as the Chaparrals defeated the Greyhounds, 15-0, in the Broken Bat Tournament, Sunday, Feb. 9, at Wilder Field. The game was ended after five innings on the run rule. ENMU, which defeated LCU, 4-1 in eight innings on Saturday, Feb. 8, fell to 3-5 on the season. Lubbock Christian improved to 3-5.

The Broken Bat Tournament matches ENMU and West Texas A&M University from the Lone Star Conference against LCU and Wayland Baptist University from the Sooner Athletic Conference. This year, the tournament was shortened to three games for each team due to cold weather on Friday (Feb. 7).

ENMU finished the event with a 1-2 record. LCU was 1-1 after defeating the Hounds, while WBU was 1-0 and WTAMU was 0-0. West Texas A&M was slated to play Wayland Baptist later on Sunday, Feb. 9, then take on WBU and LCU on Monday, Feb. 10, to conclude the tournament.

In all five innings, the Greyhounds forced the first two LCU batters to record outs. Eastern, however, had a difficult time getting out of the first and third innings.

ENMU starting pitcher Trevor Davis (So., RHP, Denver, CO/Evergreen HS) struck out Victor Rodriguez and caused Jay Eggemeyer to fly out to second base to open the game. Davis walked the next two batters, Rohan Brasher and Derrick Peoples. Justin Galvan then fouled off several pitches with a 3-2 count, before hitting a three-run homer to left field. Catcher Adrian Ballesteros walked, but courtesy runner Cody Pual was thrown out trying to steal second base.

Mark Wallace (So., CF, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS) singled with two outs for ENMU in the bottom of the first, but right fielder Ryan Bullard of LCU made a diving catch on the center field warning track to steal a hit from Dallas McMann (Sr., C, Amarillo, TX/Randall HS).

Both teams sent just three batters to the plate in the second inning, as Davis and LCU starter Kevin Miller quickly moved the game into the third inning. Rodriguez opened the third stanza with another strikeout, and Eggemeyer hit another fly ball to second base. Brasher and Peoples both singled, then Galvan hit a high fly ball to left field. ENMU outfielder Armando Urias misjudged the ball in the gusty wind that blew throughout the game, and overran the play. He backed up at the last second, but was unable to hang onto the ball. Brasher scored on the error.

Before the inning ended, the Chaps scored 12 runs - all unearned against Eastern’s team statistics. Davis gave up a two-run double to Ballesteros following the error in left field, then reliever Chris VanZant (Jr., Las Vegas, NV/Victor Valley College) went to the mound. VanZant walked four batters, and was replaced by Cade Wormington (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/Manzano HS).

Wormington hit the first batter he faced, Eggemeyer, with a pitch, then gave up a two-run single to Brasher. Wormington allowed 3 hits, a walk and 4 runs, before Anthony Bennett hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. Paul, running for Ballesteros, was thrown out on the play.

The runs against VanZant and Wormington were earned against the relief pitchers, but not against ENMU’s team totals. Additional relievers David Swinconos (Fr., LHP, Wolfforth,TX/Frenship HS) and Jim Bob Farris (Fr., RHP, Cold Springs, TX/Cold Springs HS) each held LCU scoreless during one inning of work.

ENMU produced just three hits on offense. The Greyhounds had a chance to score in the bottom of the fifth, when Chris Hill (Sr., 2B, Boise, ID/Scottsdale CC) hit a leadoff single that landed just inside the right field line. Trevor Albritton (Fr., IF, Roswell, NM/Roswell HS) ran for Hill, and moved to second on a ground out by Franco Barrero (Sr., 1B, Laredo, TX/Laredo JC).

One out later, Boe Parr (RS FR., C, Santa Fe, NM/Capital HS) walked to keep the inning alive. Sean Peterson (Jr., SS, Miles City, MT/Scottsdale CC) reached first base on a throwing error by the second baseman, Eggemeyer, but the Greyhounds misjudged the overthrow, and Albritton was eventually thrown out between third base and home plate to end the game.

Wallace had two of Eastern’s three hits and was 2 for 2 overall. Davis allowed seven runs, but was credited with give up just three earned runs, all in the first inning. He recorded four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.

Brasher, Galvan and Ballesteros each connected for two hits for LCU. Galvan led all players with five RBIs, while Ballesteros added three RBIs and Brasher drove in two runs. Brasher and Galvan each scored three runs for the Chaps.

ENMU and Lubbock Christian will meet again on Tuesday (Feb. 11), for a single nine-inning game on the LCU campus. First pitch in Lubbock, Texas, is set for 1 p.m. (MST).