Greyhounds Pound Out 24 Hits in 21-14 Win over Colorado Christian

Box Score - ENMU 21, CCU 14

LAKEWOOD, COLO. — Tyler Brown (Sr., DH, Aurora, CO/Arapahoe Community College) led an explosive Eastern New Mexico University offense with five RBIs in a 21-14 win over Colorado Christian University on Wednesday, Mar. 29 at All-Star Park. The Greyhounds, from the Lone Star Conference, recorded their highest output in runs and hits (24) this season, as they improved to 18-16 overall. The Cougars, who compete in the Rocky Mountain Conference, dropped to 3-23 overall.

Eastern had to come from behind twice in the game, with its first deficit coming after CCU scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jeff Roemer (Jr., 1B, Woodbury, MN/Rochester Community College) got the Greyhound offense going with a lead-off single in the top of the second that was followed by a single by Brown. A two-RBI single by Mick Letofsky (So., 3B, Aurora, CO/Phoenix College) drove in Roemer and Brown for a 2-2 tie.

ENMU added two runs in the third, as Seth Clabaugh (Fr., RF, Portales, NM/Angelo State University) hit a two-out single and reached home on a triple by Roemer. Brown followed with a single to score Roemer for a 4-2 lead. Colorado Christian got one run back in the bottom of the third on a solo shot over the left field fence by Patrick Garcia.

ENMU’s offense exploded in the fourth with a seven-run output. Jose Meza (Sr., C, Gypsum, CO/Arapahoe CC) followed Letofsky’s lead-off double with another double to give Eastern a 5-3 lead. Meza was able to score from third base on a sacrifice fly by Gilbert Alvarado (Sr., LF, Roswell, NM/New Mexico State University). Stephen Lopez-Barela (Fr., SS, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo HS), who was hit by a pitch, crossed the plate on a single by Roemer, and a ground-rule double to center field by Brown allowed Roemer and Clabaugh to score. Letofsky provided his second double of the inning to get Brown home. Eastern capped off the seven-hit inning, as Meza’s single provided his second RBI of the inning.

The Cougars began clawing back from an 11-3 deficit with four runs in the fifth inning. Eastern’s starting pitcher, Justin Gee (Sr., Clovis, NM/Clovis HS), got the first two batters out, but then gave a double to Garcia. Ricky Walker drove in Garcia with a single. Following a base on balls to Bud Wilborn, Jay Beleu hit a two-RBI double. A single by Chris Polton got Beleu home before Gee was able to strike out Barry Faciane with two runner left on base, as the Hounds' lead was cut to 11-7.

A two out solo home run by Mike McDuffie (Jr., PH/2B, Albuquerque, NM/Sandia HS) in the sixth gave Eastern a 12-7 advantage, but CCU pounded Hound reliever David Swinconos (Sr., Lubbock, TX/Frenship HS) for six runs on four hits and two walks to retake the lead, 13-12, with just one out in the bottom of the inning.

Eastern quickly overcame the deficit with three runs in the seventh, on a sacrifice fly by Kelton Hayes (Jr., PH, Guthrie, OK/Northlake Community College), and RBI singles by Roemer and Brown to go up 15-13. The Hounds added two more runs in the eighth, as Alvarado’s single drove in Derrick Kennedy (So., 3B, San Antonio, TX/G.W. Brackenridge HS), and a Cougar fielding error allowed Tim Crafton (Jr., PH/RF, Farmington, NM/New Mexico Military Institute) to get home for a 17-13 ENMU lead.

The Cougars scored a run in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to three, but Eastern’s batter weren’t done. Roemer led off the ninth with his second triple of the game. Brown singled Roemer home, then McDuffie also provided a single. Kennedy drove in the 19th run with an RBI-double. Eastern finished the inning with a two-RBI double by Matt Hinojosa (Sr., PH/SS, Baytown, TX/Laredo Community College).

Brown and Roemer were 5 for 6 at the plate, with Brown adding three runs to his five RBIs. Roemer drove in three runs and scored four times. Letofsky was a perfect 3 for 3 with three RBIs and one run. Alvarado and Hinojosa each recorded two RBIs on their one hit apiece.

ENMU needed four pitchers during the game, with Evan Courteau (Jr., Minneapolis, MN/Rochester Community College), who took the mound in the fifth, recording his fifth win against three losses, as he went 2 2/3 innings.

Eastern begins to Lone Star Conference South Division play on Friday, Mar. 31 with a four-game series against Angelo State University. Both days of the series are scheduled for a 4 p.m. MST start. Eastern remains at home for a rematch against New Mexico Highlands University on Tuesday, Apr. 4, with the first pitch set for 6 p.m. MST.