ENMU Wins Baseball Season Opener
Against Sul Ross State, 8-2
Greyhounds Pound Out 13 Hits; Crain Stikes Out Six

Box Score

ALPINE, TEXAS — The Eastern New Mexico University baseball team opened its 2005 campaign with a solid victory, pounding out 14 hits and getting seven solid innings from starting pitcher Kelly Crain (Jr., P, Gordon, Texas/Gordon HS), in an 8-2 victory at Sul Ross State University, Friday, Feb. 4 at Kokernot Field. The Greyhounds begin the season with a 1-0 record, while the Lobos start out 0-1.

Crain, who was named to the First Team All LSC-South squad last season, overpowered Sul Ross State’s batters. He struck out six Lobos and gave up only four hits, one walk and two runs (one earned) in seven innings on the mound. David Swinconos (Jr., P, Lubbock, Texas/Frenship HS) provided relief pitching in the eighth inning, giving up two hits and no runs. Senior pitcher Trevor Davis (Sr., Evergreen, Colorado/Evergreen HS) closed out the game, getting one strikeout, while not allowing anyone to reach first base.

Eastern’s bats were hot, as the Hounds recorded two or more hits in five different innings off Lobo pitchers Cody Armer and Cody Kemmerling. Eight Greyhounds collected at least one hit and five batters knocked in at least one run.

The Greyhounds started quickly, scoring two runs in the first inning. Josh Kuchta (Sr., SS, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) singled with one out in the inning. Brett Scherer (Sr., 3B, Ingram, TX/Midland College) batted next, and reached first on an error by first baseman Kyle Baldeschwiler, advancing Kuchta to third. Mark Wallace (Sr., 1B, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS), a First Team All LSC-South selection in 2004, was hit by a pitch to load up the bases with only one out.

Trying to overcome a bases-loaded situation, Armer threw a wild-pitch to Justin Gee (Jr., RF, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS), allowing Kuchta to score and the other runners to advance to second and third. Gee grounded out to shortstop, scoring Scherer from third and putting Eastern up 2-0.

After allowing an unearned run on a throwing error by Kuchta in the bottom of the first, the Greyhounds were up 2-1. Bryan Moore (Sr., 2B, Wolfforth, TX/Howard JC) led off the top of the third with a double to right-center field. With one out, Scherer doubled in Moore, then reached third base on an error by Paul Cataldi in left field. Wallace lined out to center, scoring Scherer on a sacrifice fly, as the Greyhounds’ lead increased to 4-1.

In the bottom of the third, Crain struck out three Lobo batters to retain Eastern’s lead. Later, with one out in the top of the sixth inning, Ryan French (Jr., CF, Carlsbad, NM/Trinidad State College) singled to left field. He advanced to second when Brian Green (Jr., C, Fountain Hills, AZ/Central Arizona College) was hit by a pitch. Gilbert Alvarado (Jr., LF, Roswell, NM/New Mexico Stare University) hit into a fielder’s choice, as Green was thrown out at second and French advanced to third. French scored on an single to left field by Moore, giving Eastern a 5-1 lead.

Kemmerling relieved Armer on the mound for Sul Ross State to start the seventh inning. He recorded one out, before Wallace belted a solo home run to left field, increasing ENMU’s lead to 6-1. In the bottom of the inning, Crain gave up an earned run on a two-out solo homer by pinch hitter Rafael Gonzalez. Crain regrouped quickly and struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Kuchta and Scherer led off the ninth inning with back-to-back singles. Both players advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Wallace, then Kuchta scored on a sacrifice fly by Gee. Scherer scored on a double by McDuffie, as ENMU tallied the game’s final run in the 8-2 win.

The Greyhounds will remain in Alpine, Texas, for a double-header against Sul Ross State on Saturday, Feb. 5. Game time for the first contest is set for 12 p.m. MST. Eastern will play its home opener, a double-header against the Colorado School of Mines, on Saturday, Feb. 12, starting at 1 p.m. MST. The following day, ENMU is scheduled to play CSM in one nine-inning game, with the first pitch set for 1 p.m. MST.