NMHU Offense Blasts 19 Hits in 17-5 Win over Greyhounds

Box Score

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — New Mexico Highlands University recorded 19 hits against Eastern New Mexico University on Tuesday, Mar. 28, as the Cowboys defeated the Greyhounds, 17-5, in a non-conference game at Brandt Field. NMHU, which led 7-0 after the first two innings, improved to 16-13. The Greyhounds, who lost for the 12th time in the past 13 games, fell to 17-16 on the season.

Highlands surged out to a quick 4-0 lead in the opening stanza, when Antonio Siqueiros hit a grand slam to center field with one out. The Cowboys tacked on three more runs in the second inning, as Jonathan Dees doubled, Miguel Porchas supplied an RBI single and Siqueiros added an RBI double. Will Siegrist walked during the inning, and later scored when the single by Porchas was misplayed in center field.

ENMU pulled within 7-4 with one run in the fourth inning and three runs in the sixth. In the fourth, Derrick Kennedy (So., 3B, San Antonio, TX/G.W. Brackenridge HS) blasted a double with one out, moved to third on a single by Justin Gee (Sr., RF, Clovis, NM/Clovis HS) and scored on a wild pitch.

In the sixth, Matt Hinojosa (Sr., SS, Baytown, TX/Laredo CC) singled, reached third when Kennedy hit into an error, and scored on a single by Gee. Mike McDuffie (Jr., 2B, Albuquerque, NM/Sandia HS) and Tim Crafton (Jr., OF, Farmington, NM/New Mexico Military Institute) also provided RBI singles during the inning.

NMHU answered with three runs in the sixth inning for a 10-4 advantage, then extended its lead with three runs in the seventh and four runs in the eighth. Francisco Hernandez hit a lead-off double and scored in the sixth. Dees drove in two runs with the double in the seventh and picked up another RBI when he hit into a fielder’s choice in the eighth. Joe Ness brought in another run in the eighth with an RBI single.

The Cowboys scored six unearned runs during the game, including two in the sixth inning, one in the seventh and two in the eighth. Eastern concluded the scoring with a run in the ninth stanza, as Crafton walked to open the inning and eventually scored when Kennedy was issued a bases-loaded walk with two outs.

Jason Weldon, the starting pitcher for NMHU, went 5 1/3 innings and allowed just six hits. He gave up four runs (three earned), while improving to 4-4 on the season. Weldon registered four strikeouts and gave up one walk.

ENMU starter Evan Orsak (Fr., RHP, Andrews, TX/Andrews HS) lasted just two innings and took the loss (0-1). He allowed seven runs, nine hits and two walks. He earned one strikeout.

Dees was 3 for 5 with four runs and four RBIs for Highlands. Siqueiros finished the game with a 2-for-4 performance, plus two runs and five RBIs. Nate Moore-Ness was 3 for 5 and scored one run.

For ENMU, Gee led the way with three hits in five at bats. No other Greyhound contributed more than one hit during the game, as NMHU allowed just 10 hits overall.

Eastern will remain on the road to take on Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colo., on Wednesday, Mar. 29. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. The Greyhounds will return home to open a 10-game homestand, starting with a four-game Lone Star Conference series against Angelo State University on Friday, Mar. 31 and Saturday, Apr. 1. ENMU and ASU will play a double-header each day at 4 p.m. MST.