Greyhounds Lose Pair of One-Run Games
at Texas A&M-Kingsville, 2-1 and 5-4

KINGSVILLE, TX– Mike Huddleston and Casey Owens each threw a complete game for Texas A&M University-Kingsville, as the Javelinas swept a Lone Star Conference double-header form Eastern New Mexico University, 2-1 and 5-4, Friday, Mar. 21, at Nolan Ryan Field. TAMU-Kingsville improved to 21-10 overall and 10-3 in the LSC South. ENMU fell to 7-27 overall and 1-13 in LSC South action.

Eastern is now 0-9 in one-run games. The Greyhounds are 1-13 in games decided by two runs or less.

Kingsville remained in first place in the LSC South. The Javelinas are in front of Tarleton State University at 8-4 and Abilene Christian University at 8-5. TAMUK and ENMU will finish their three-game series with one 9-inning contest on Saturday, Mar. 22, at 11 a.m. (MST)

In the opener, Huddleston improved to 5-1 by throwing a two-hitter and striking out six ENMU batters. Eastern scored just once, on an unearned run in the third inning. Huddleston allowed one extra-base hit - a double by Mark Wallace (So., CF, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS) - and gave up only one walk.

The Greyhounds took a 1-0 lead in the third. Steven Romano (Sr., SS/3B, Las Cruces, NM/Onate HS) was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Boe Parr (Fr., C, Santa Fe, NM/Capital HS) lined out to second base, but the throw to double off Romano was misplayed by the first baseman and Romano advanced to third. He scored on Wallace’s double.

Kingsville quickly tied the game in the bottom of the third. Brandon Wittner singled to start the inning, then stole second. An errant throw allowed him to reach third. He scored on a single by Justin Bills. Rick Dyer also singled for TAMUK, but ENMU pitcher Ian Thurman-Kelly (Jr., LHP, Denver, CO/Lamar CC) recorded two strikeouts to hold the Javelinas to a single run.

The winning run was scored in the fourth inning after Bryan Shippey walked. He held at first on a fly out, then advanced to third on a single up the middle by Douglas Fogel. Wittner also singled, driving in Shippey, as the Javelinas took a 2-1 lead.

ENMU’s best chance to tie the game was in the sixth inning, when Boyd Erickson (Jr., RF, Anchorage, AK/Victor Valley CC) reached first on an error with no outs. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Josh Kuchta (So., OF/P, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS). Franco Barrero (Sr., DH/1B, Laredo, TX/Laredo JC) flied out to center and Erickson was call out for leaving the base early.

Thurman-Kelly, who fell to 0-5, struck out two Javelinas and allowed two walks. He gave up 10 hits, but the only extra-base hits were a pair of doubles by Jonathan Forte. The Greyhounds have scored just nine runs in Thurman-Kelly’s five losses.

In the second game, Owens gave up just four hits in nine innings. He walked six batters, but also recorded four strikeouts.

ENMU took another 1-0 lead, this time in the first inning. Barrero walked with two outs. Chris Hill (Sr., 2B, Boise, ID/Scottsdale CC) also walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, then Barrero crossed the plate on a passed ball, as Dallas McMann (Sr., C/DH, Amarillo, TX/Randall HS) received ball four on a walk.

The Javelinas tallied two runs in the bottom of the inning. Forte doubled with one out, and scored on a two-out single by Thomas Melvin. Melvin later scored on a single by Mike Aguirre.

Kingsville’s lead increased to 5-1 in the fourth inning. With two outs, Bills and Dyer hit back-to-back singles to right field. Forte followed with a three-run homer. Chris Mash and Melvin added singles, before ENMU starter Jerry Macias (Sr., RHP, Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces HS) forced Shippey into a ground out to end the inning.

Eastern battled back with one run in the fifth and two more in the sixth. The first run was setup on singles by Chris VanZant (Jr., OF/1B, Las Vegas, NV/Victor Valley CC) and Kuchta. Wallace provided a sacrifice bunt, and Erickson drove home VanZant on a grounder to second.

In the sixth, Barrero walked and reached second on a sacrifice by Hill. McMann also walked, with Barrero advancing to third on a wild pitch. Mike McDuffie (Fr., 3B, Albuquerque, NM/Sandia HS) hit into a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on an error by the second baseman. Barrero scored on the play. VanZant doubled to left field to drive in McDuffie.

ENMU put just one runner on base over the final three innings. Barrero walked to open the eighth and Trevor Albritton (Fr., IF, Roswell, NM/Roswell HS) pinch-ran. Albritton stole second with two outs, but was left stranded when McDuffie hit a grounder to shortstop.
Macias, who gave up five runs and 12 hits in five innings, fell to 1-4 with the loss. Owens improved to 3-1 with the win.

Forte was Kingsville’s top hitter on the day. He went 4 for 8 during the double-header, with three RBIs, three doubles, two runs and a homer. Dyer also went 4 for 8 overall, while Wittner was 3 for 3 with a run and an RBI in the opening game.

Eastern’s four hits in the second game were earned by just two players. VanZant hit a single and a double, while Kuchta recorded two singles. The remaining ENMU batters were a combined zero for 20 at the plate.