ENMU Takes 6-3 Win over Wayland Baptist
Scherer Throws 5 1/3 Innings to Earn Pitching Victory

Box Score - ENMU 6, WBU 3

PLAINVIEW, TEXAS — Brett Scherer (Sr., RHP/3B, Ingram, TX/Midland College) threw 5 1/3 innings, struck out three batters and allowed just two unearned runs to lead Eastern
New Mexico University to a 6-3 victory over Wayland Baptist University on Tuesday, Apr. 12 at Wilder Field. The Greyhounds improved to 19-20 on the season, while WBU fell to 26-19.

Scherer improved his pitching record to 3-4 on the season. Kelly Crain (Jr., RHP, Gordon, TX/Gordon HS), David Swinconos (Jr., LHP, Lubbock, TX/ Frenship HS) and Kellen Smith (Fr., RHP, Amarillo, TX/Randall HS) combined to finish the game for ENMU. The Greyhounds limited Wayland Baptist to nine hits, all singles, while recording six strikeouts and allowing four walks.

The Hounds scored three times in the second inning to take an early lead. Justin Gee (Jr., RF, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) drove in one run with a single, Gilbert Alvarado (Jr., LF, Roswell, NM/ New Mexico State University) added an RBI on a ground out, and Gee completed the inning by scoring on a wild pitch.

ENMU tallied two runs in the fifth inning for a 5-0 margin. Bryan Moore (Sr., 2B, Wolfforth, TX/Howard College) and Josh Kuchta (Sr., SS, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) both singled and scored during the stanza. Derrick Kennedy (Fr., 3B/CF, San Antonio, TX/G.W. Brackenridge HS) drove in the second run when he hit a sacrifice fly to right field for the second out.

Mark Wallace (Sr., 1B, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS) followed Kennedy with a double to center field for the only extra-base hit by either team. Wallace, who went 2 for 4 on the night, was stranded at second when pitcher Seth Andrews recorded a strikeout to end the inning.

WBU scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth. The inning included two errors by ENMU to go with two hits by the Pioneers. Jorge Rubio walked with one out, then advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Chasen Deleon and Jacob Palomarez reached base on consecutive errors, with Rubio scoring on the second miscue. Crain went to the mound for ENMU, but Deleon scored when Brian Hewitt hit into a fielder’s choice. Crain struck out Joseph Covarrubias to end the threat.

Eastern increased its lead to 6-2 when Scherer singled to start the seventh inning, advanced to second on a single by Kennedy and scored when Wallace hit into a double play. Wayland Baptist concluded the scoring when a walk was issued to Deleon with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Lucio Castro scored on the play.

Wallace was joined by four other Greyhounds with two hits apiece. Moore was 2 for 2, while Gee went 2 for 3 and Scherer and Kennedy each went 2 for 5. Eastern’s six runs were scored by six different players. Hewitt was 2 for 4 with an RBI for the Pioneers.

WBU used six pitchers during the game. Starter Gary Gates, who threw the first two innings, fell to 1-1 with the loss. He gave up three runs, three hits and three walks.

ENMU will travel to Canyon, Texas, this weekend for a four-game Lone Star Conference South Division series against West Texas A&M University. The Greyhounds and the Buffaloes will open the series with a double-header on Friday, Apr. 15, starting at 1 p.m. (MDT). The teams will complete the series with a double-header on Saturday, Apr. 16, at 12 p.m. (MDT).