Cameron Sweeps Twinbill from Greyhounds
Four-run Sixth Inning Breaks 0-0 Tie in Opener

Box Score - Game 1 - CU 4, ENMU 0
Box Score - Game 2 - CU 13, ENMU 3

PORTALES, N.M. — Kacy Groves threw a three-hit shutout and Cameron University broke a 0-0 tie by scoring four times in the sixth inning, as the Aggies defeated Eastern New Mexico University, 4-0, in the first game of a double-header on Friday, Mar. 17 at Greyhound Field. The Aggies completed the double-header sweep by defeating the Greyhounds, 13-3, in the nightcap. Cameron improved to 10-13 on the season. ENMU dropped to 16-10.

Eastern has lost six games in a row, including four games at Southwestern Oklahoma State University last weekend. All six contest have been Lone Star Conference crossover games.

Groves registered just two strikeouts, but did not allow a walk and gave up only one extra-base hit, a double by Brian Green (Sr., C, Fountain Hills, AZ/Central Arizona College) in the third inning. Casey Bigham (Jr., 1B, New Deal, TX/New Deal HS) advanced Green to third base with a ground out, but Green was thrown out between third and home when Micah Bernhardt (Sr., 3B/2B, Gypsum, CO/Arapahoe CC) followed with a grounder to third baseman B.J. Cole.

Cameron second baseman Blake Hughes made a solid defensive play to record an out on the grounder by Bigham. The ball appeared on its way through the infield, but Hughes ranged behind second base to snag the ball, then threw out Bigham at first.

ENMU starting pitcher Kelly Crain (Sr., RHP, Gordon, TX/Gordon HS) also made a stellar
play in the opener. With runners at first and third in the fourth inning, Mark Armstrong made partial contact with the ball and sent it toward third. Crain went to the ground to retrieve the ball about one-third of the way between home and third. While seated on the ground just inside the baseline, Crain threw a perfect pass to beat Armstrong at first for the third out of the inning.

The scoreless tie ended when Cameron plated four runs in the sixth inning. Waylon Pettet walked, then Crain had trouble picking up a bunt down the first baseline by Hughes. The error put runners at first and second with no outs. Cole sacrificed the runners to second and third, then John Herbert hit a two-run single down the right field line. Greg Patton hit an RBI double near the left field line and Matt Machinski added an RBI double between third and shortstop.

Green, who went 2 for 2 during the game, singled to open the bottom of the sixth, but was thrown out later on a double play. In the seventh, the Greyhounds sent just three batters to the plate, as Groves forced three ground outs to end the game and improve to 3-4 on the season. Crain, who allowed just three hits, but walked four batters in 5 1/3 innings, fell to 3-3.

Gilbert Alvarado (Sr., LF, Roswell, NM/ New Mexico Military Institute) supplied Eastern’s
only other hit with a single in the fourth. Cameron recorded six hits — one each by six players.

In the second game, Cameron built a 9-2 lead in the first two-and-a-half innings, then cruised to the win. ENMU committed four errors in the game, including three by shortstop Matt Hinojosa (Sr., Baytown, TX/Laredo CC). Hinojosa’s first error was a misplayed double-play ball with no outs and a runner at first base in the opening stanza. Cameron took advantage of the miscue, plus four hits and another error, to score four runs during the inning.

The Aggies tacked on another run in the second, then gave up two runs to Eastern in the bottom of the inning. Cameron responded with four more runs in the third. Pettet drove in two runs with a single up the middle and Cole drove in two more with a double down the left field line.

Alvarado walked to open the bottom of the third. He advanced to second on a sacrifice
bunt by Clayton Young (Fr., CF, Canyon, TX/Canyon HS) and reached third on a ground out by Hinojosa. Alvarado scored on a single by Justin Gee (Sr., RF, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS).

Cameron completed the scoring with individual runs in the fourth and sixth innings, plus two runs in the seventh. The Aggies achieved 16 hits during the game and did not commit an error during the double-header. Pettet went 4 for 4 with two runs and four RBIs during Game #2. Four other Aggies provided two hits apiece.

ENMU’s designated hitter, Kelton Hayes (Jr., Guthrie, OK/Northlake CC) led the Hounds
with three hits in four at bats. His single in the second inning drove in Eastern’s first run. Gee was 2 for 2 with two walks, an RBIs and a run scored. Jeff Roemer (Jr., 1B, Woodbury, MN/Rochester Community and Technical College) was 2 for 2 and walked once.

Seth Clabaugh (Fr., LHP, Portales, NM/Angelo State University) gave up eight hits and nine runs (seven earned) as Eastern’s starter in the second game. He fell to 0-2 with the loss. Charlie Ward (So., RHP, Roswell, NM/Trinidad State JC) recorded the final two outs of the third inning, then David Swinconos (Sr., LHP, Lubbock, TX/Frenship HS) threw four innings for ENMU.

Eastern and Cameron will play two more games on Saturday, Mar. 18. Game time for the first game is scheduled for 12 p.m. (MST.).