St. Edward's Breaks 5-5 Tie with Two Runs in 5th,
Hilltoppers Hold on for 8-6 Win over Greyhounds

AUSTIN, TX – St. Edward’s University scored two runs in the fifth inning to break a 5-5 tie, and the Hilltoppers held off visiting Eastern New Mexico University for an 8-6 win, Mar. 19 at Lucien-Hamilton Field. St. Edward’s lifted its record to 10-18, while ENMU dropped to 7-25 on the season.

The Greyhounds took a 3-0 lead in the opening stanza. Dallas McMann (Sr., C, Amarillo, TX/Randall HS) drove in one run with a single up the middle. Franco Barrero (Sr., 1B/DH, Laredo, TX/Laredo JC) added an RBI when he reached first on a throwing error, and Boe Parr (Fr., C, Santa Fe, NM/Capital HS) brought home McMann with a sacrifice fly to right field.

TAMU-Kingsville equalized the game with a trio of runs in the third. Justin Keith singled to left field to score Thomas Miles with the first run. Keith later scored on a bases-loaded walk issued to Gabe Haugland. The third run was scored by Josh Hamilton on a single by Ben Perez.

Third baseman Mike McDuffie (Fr., 3B, Albuquerque, NM/Sandia HS) and shorstop Steven Romano (Sr., Las Cruces, NM/Onate HS) scored for ENMU in the fourth inning, giving the Hounds a 5-3 lead. Both runs came with one out, when Mark Wallace (So., CF, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS) hit the ball into the outfield, where it was misplayed by the left fielder.

The Javelinas also tallied two runs in the fourth inning. Bryan Baralt hit a two-out triple down the left field line to plate Hamilton and Miles.

In the fifth inning, Perez doubled, stole third, and scored on an errant throw from home plate. Logan Wood drove in the next run with his first homer of the season, giving TAMUK a 7-5 advantage.

Barrero homered to lead off the sixth inning for Eastern. McDuffie and Romano each singled with one out, but McDuffie was thrown out after over-running second base. Wallace flied out to right field to end the inning.

Perez scored an insurance run for SEU in the seventh. He was hit by a pitch, then scored all the way from first on a throwing error by pitcher Michael Cervera (Jr., RHP, El Paso, TX/El Paso CC).

The Greyhounds opened the eighth inning with back-to-back singles by parr and McDuffie. Romano flied out for the first out, but both runners advanced later on a passed ball. The runners were left at second and third when Wallace grounded out and Albritton struck out.

Scott Peterson (Jr., LF/SS, Miles City, MT/Scottsdale CC) singled as Eastern’s first batter in the ninth inning, but relief pitcher Daniel Mize forced Boyd Erickson (Jr., RF, Anchorage, AK/Victor Valley CC) into a 4-6-3 double play. Mize also got McMann to ground out to shortstop for the games final out.

Nicholas Vallejo was the winning pitcher for St. Edward’s. He improved to 1-4 this season. Mize recorded his first save of the year.

ENMU starter Kelly Crain (Fr., RHP, Gordon, TX/Gordon HS) fell to 0-3 with the loss. He gave up eight hits and seven runs, while registering four strikeouts and four walks. Cervera gave up one run in two innings, while Trevor Davis (So., RHP, Denver, CO/Evergreen HS) did not allow a hit or a run while throwing in the eighth inning.

Perez was 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI for the Hilltoppers. Hamilton scored two runs and Baralt achieved two RBIs. McDuffie was 3 for 4 with a run scored for ENMU, while Peterson and McMan both went 2 for 5. Barrero was 1 for 4 with two RBIs.

The Hounds will close out their Spring Break trip with a three-game Lone Star Conference South Division series at Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Friday, Mar. 21 and Saturday, Mar. 22. On Friday, the teams will play one 7-inning game and one 9-inning game, with the action starting at 3 p.m. (MST). On Saturday, ENMU and TAMUK will play a 9-inning game at 11 a.m. (MST).