Southwestern Oklahoma Defeats Greyhounds, 12-5 and 9-3, to Sweep Double-Header

Box Score - Game 1 - SWOSU 12, ENMU 5
Box Score - Game 2 - SWOSU 9, ENMU 3

WEATHERFORD, OKLA. — Southwestern Oklahoma State University pounded out 15 hits in the opener and 12 hits in the nightcap, as the Bulldogs swept a Lone Star Conference crossover double-header from Eastern New Mexico University, 14-5 and 9-3, on Friday, Mar. 10 at SWOSU Park. The wins improved SW Oklahoma to 10-8 on the season, while ENMU fell to 16-6.

The Bulldogs led just 3-1 after four and a half innings in the first game, but scored 11 runs in the bottom of the fifth to turn the game into a rout. ENMU trailed 14-1 after the huge inning for SWOSU, but countered with one run in the sixth and three runs in the seventh.

In the second game, SWOSU scored twice in the first stanza and five times in the second inning to build a 7-0 lead. Eastern pulled within 7-3 by scoring once in the fourth inning and two times in the sixth. The Bulldogs extended the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth for the final 9-3 win.

Colby Tackett, 2-3, threw the first six innings to earn the win in Game #1. He allowed eight hits and two runs, while recording six strikeouts and no walks. Reliever Kole Kennedy gave up three runs in the seventh, but SWOSU was able to absorb the runs and still win the game. Kelly Crain (Sr., RHP, Gordon, TX/Gordon HS) dropped to 3-2 with the loss for ENMU.

Tackett received plenty of insurance runs from the Bulldogs’ fifth inning. SW Oklahoma recorded 10 hits and benefited from three errors during the stanza. Garron Davenport and Landon Thompson hit back-to-back RBI triples with one out to drive in the first two runs. Levi Garrett walked, then Thompson was thrown out at home when Sean Rogers hit into a fielder’s choice. Tanner Dewald drove in the next two runs with a single, and four other players added one RBI apiece during the inning. Dewald flew out to left field for the final out of the inning.

Thompson was 4 for 4 in the opener with two runs and three RBIs. Davenport was 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs, while Lance Scales and Lincoln Hatfield each went 2 for 4.

Mike McDuffie (Jr., 2B, Albuquerque, NM/Sandia HS) went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. He was the only Greyhound with more than one hit. Derrick Kennedy (So., 3B, Houston, TX/G.W. Brackenridge HS) was 1 for 3 with a double and Micah Bernhardt (Sr., 2B/3B, Gypsum, CO/Arapahoe CC) provided a pinch-hit triple to score two runs in the seventh inning in his only at bat. Bernhardt scored when Gee grounded out for the second out of the inning.

In Game #2, Thompson singled with one out in the first inning to put runners at first and second for the Bulldogs. Garrett walked to load the bases, then Rogers flew out to ENMU’s starting pitcher, David Swinconos (Sr., LHP, Lubbock, TX/Frenship HS), leaving the bases full. Dewald followed with a two-RBI single, as Scales and Thompson scored. Garrett also attempted to score, but was thrown out at the plate.

SW Oklahoma added five runs in the second inning. The key hit was a double by Garrett that drove in three runs. Thompson also recorded an RBI when he walked with the bases loaded to bring home the first run of the inning. Rogers provided the final run of the inning with a single that drove in Garrett from second base.

Eastern put its first run of the game on the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Seth Clabaugh (Fr., OF/P, Portales, NM/Angelo State University) walked to open the inning, then moved to second when Tim Crafton (Jr., OF, Farmington, NM/N.M. Military Institute) also received a walk. Gee batted next and hit a run-scoring single, as Crafton moved to third. Three consecutive strikeouts ended the threat.

ENMU tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning. Gee hit an RBI double to score Crafton with no outs. One out later, Bernhardt drove in Gee with the other run on a single. Two more singles, by Mick Letofsky (So., 3B, Aurora, CO/Phoenix College) and Brian Green (Sr., C, Fountain Hills, AZ/Central Arizona College), loaded the bases, but a fielder’s choice resulted in Bernhardt being thrown out at home and Casey Bigham (Fr., IF, New Deal, TX/New Deal HS) grounded out to end the inning.

Thompson drove in both runs for SWOSU in the bottom of the sixth on a bases-loaded double with one out. Davenport and Scales scored on the play. ENMU reliever Evan Orsak (Fr., RHP, Andrews, TX/Andrews HS) ended the inning by striking out Garrett and Rogers.

Scales, Thompson, Dewald and Hatfield each recorded two hits in the second game for SWOSU. For Eastern, Gee was 2 for 3 with one run and two RBIs. Six other Greyhounds earned one hit apiece.

Caleb Briggs improved to 2-0 for SW Oklahoma with the win in Game #2. Swinconos fell to 0-3 on the season.

Eastern and SW Oklahoma are set to play another double-header on Saturday, Mar. 11. The double-header is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. MST.