Hounds Sweep Series Against Sul Ross to Start Season with a 4-0 Record

Box Score - Game #3, ENMU 20, SRSU 9
Box Score - Game #4, ENMU 12, SRSU 6

ALPINE, TEXAS — Eastern New Mexico University pounded out 31 hits in both wins of a double-header, 20-9 and 12-6, for a series sweep over Sul Ross State University on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Kokernote Field. This was the Greyhounds’ opening series and they begin the year undefeated with a 4-0 record. The Lobos began their season winless with an 0-4 record.

The Hounds belted five home runs in the first game on their way to 19 hits against four Sul Ross pitchers. The offense was led by Mike McDuffie (Jr., 2B, Albuquerque, NM/Sandia HS) who went 3-4 at the plate, with a homerun, five RBIs and three runs scored. Tim Crafton (Jr., CF, Farmington, NM/New Mexico Military Institute) belted two balls out of the park, while Gilbert Alvarado (Sr., LF, Roswell, NM/New Mexico State University) and Jeff Roemer (Jr., 1B, Woodbury, MN/Rochester Community College) each recorded their first homers of the season. Crafton went 2-3 at the plate and by getting hit by two pitches scored four times, while knocking in three runs. Seth Clabaugh (Fr., LF, Portales, NM/Angelo State University) was very productive at the plate with three RBIs on 2-3 hitting, while getting across the plate twice.

Eastern’s offense gave starter Evan Courteau (Jr., RHP, Minneapolis, MN/Rochester Community college) 19 runs by the fourth inning, with four runs in the first, six runs in the second, three runs in the third and six more in the fourth inning. He pitched five innings and gave up four earned runs on his way to his first win of the season. In the sixth inning, Evan Orsak (Fr., RHP, Andrews, TX/Andrews HS) came in relief and was very effective, giving up only one hit in two scoreless innings pitched.

ENMU had to play from behind on two occasions early in the second game. The Lobos scored a run in the first and the Hounds answered with three runs in the second. Sul Ross added a run in the bottom of the second and recaptured the lead with a two run third to go up 4-3.

Eastern’s Roemer came in relief for starter Clabaugh in the fourth inning. After going 3-5 at the plate in the first game while playing first base, Roemer pitched scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth, before giving up a run in the sixth inning. By then, the Eastern batters had scored four times in the top of the sixth to take the lead for good. Charlie Ward (So., RHP, Roswell, NM/Trinadad State Junior College) took the mound in the seventh to pitch two scoreless innings while giving up only one hit and fanning two Lobos. Hounds’ closer Keith Balderaz (So., RHP, Monahans, TX/Monahans HS) pitched the ninth, giving up two hits and a run to secure the series sweep.

Kelton Hayes (Jr., DH, Guthrie, OK/Northlake Community College) provided Eastern’s only homer of the game, as he went 2-4 at the plate with three RBIs and a run scored. First baseman Casey Bigham was solid at the plate, getting three hit in five at bats to score three times and knock in one run. Matt Hinojosa (Sr., SS, Baytown, TX/Laredo Community College) also went 3-5 at the plate with one RBI and a run scored.

ENMU will have its home opener on Friday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. MST against Colorado School of Mines. The first home series of the season will continue on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 12 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. MST.