Greyhounds Split Double-Header with 5th-Ranked Abilene Christian to Start LSC South Series
Swinoconos Pitches Three-Hit Shutout in Nightcap, as ENMU Wins, 5-0

Box Score - Game #1 - ACU 6, ENMU 4
Box Score - Game #2 - ENMU 5, ACU 0

ABILENE, TEXAS — Eastern New Mexico University, led by a complete-game three-hitter from pitcher David Swinconos (Jr., LHP, Lubbock, TX/Frenship HS), defeated 5th-ranked Abilene Christian University, 5-0, in the second game of a double-header on Friday, Apr. 29 at Crutcher Scott Field. Abilene Christian won the opening game, 6-4, as the Wildcats broke a 4-4 tie with two runs in the eighth inning. ENMU and ACU will complete the four game Lone Star Conference series with another double-header on Saturday, Apr. 30, starting at 11 a.m. MDT.

ACU ended Friday's double-header with a 39-14 overall record, including 14-4 in the LSC South. The Wildcats have clinched the LSC South title with a four-game lead and two games remaining. ENMU, Angelo State University and Texas A&M University Kingsville are tied for second place in the LSC South at 10-8. ENMU is 26-25 overall.

Swinconos (5-3) gave up just one extra-base hit, a double by Brenan Herrera in the fourth inning. ACU’s other hits were singles by Johnny Zepeda in the third inning and C.J. Goularte in the seventh inning. Swinconos struck out four batters and gave up three walks. ACU starter Ben Brockman entered the game with an undefeated record in 2005, but fell to 10-1 with the loss. The Wildcats, who were shut out for just the second time this season, entered the game ranked ninth in NCAA Division II with 9.0 runs per game.

In the second game, Eastern scored two runs in the third inning and three runs in the sixth. Justin Gee (Jr., RF, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) doubled and Gilbert Alvarado (Jr., LF, Roswell, NM/N.M. State University) was hit by a pitch to open the third stanza. Gee later scored on a ground out by Bryan Moore (Sr., 2B, Wolfforth, TX/Howard College), and Alvarado scored on a single by Brett Scherer (Sr., DH/3B, Ingram, TX/Midland College).

ENMU took advantage of an error and four hits with two outs in the sixth inning, as Ryan French (Jr., CF, Carlsbad, NM/Trinidad State JC) singled in one run and Tyler Brown (Jr., C, Aurora, CO/Arapahoe CC) added a two-run single. Derrick Kennedy (Fr., 3B/OF, San Antonio, TX/G.W. Brackenridge HS), French and Mark Wallace (Sr., 1B, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS) scored durring the inning.

In the opener, Ben Maynard threw seven innings for ACU and struck out seven Greyhounds, while allowing three walks. ENMU led 3-2 after an inning and a half, but the Wildcats tied the score with a run in the fourth inning, then moved in front 4-3 with another run in the fifth. Moore singled for Eastern with two outs in the seventh inning, then scored the tying run when Josh Kuchta (Sr., SS, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) and Scherer followed with two more singles.

ACU plated two runs with two outs in the eighth. Chris Walsh and J-Bob Thomas each hit RBI singles during the inning.

Moore was 2 for 4 for ENMU in the first game, as he extended his ENMU record hitting streak to 22 games. His streak ended in the second game, when he went 0 for 3. French earned two hits in three at bats in the opener, while Brown and Kennedy each went 2 for 3 at the plate in the second game.