ENMU earns two walkoff victories
May 3—PORTALES — It wasn't enough to extend the season, but Eastern New Mexico University's baseball squad nonetheless finished its campaign on an uptick.
ENMU erased a 4-0 deficit with a seven-run sixth, then watched Texas A&M-Kingsville tie it with three runs in the ninth, the last two coming on consecutive dropped fly balls in the outfield with two out.
Sophomore third baseman Sammy Williamson bailed out the Greyhounds, though, hitting a one-out RBI single in the bottom half for an 8-7 victory at Greyhound Field and a split of the four-game series with the Javelinas.
On Friday night, the Hounds also walked off the Javelinas, winning 11-10 in the bottm of the 10th on a two-out, bases-loaded catcher's interference call. While they endured seven-inning shutout losses in both ends of Saturday's twin bill, the split was enough to keep Kingsville (30-16, 28-16 LSC) from moving up a notch to third place past Lubbock Christian (34-16, 32-16) in the league standings.
Williamson went 4-for-5, leading a 15-hit attack against five Javelinas hurlers.
Kingsville stater Robbie Spencer carried a three-hitter and a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but was chased after giving up three hits and throwing two wild pitches.
Williamson promptly tied the game with a run-scoring double off reliever Luis Martinez, and shortstop Jude Perea's opposite-field two-bagger put the Hounds in front 5-4. Second baseman Dax Edmonds added an RBI hit, and the final run came home on a passed ball.
It held up until the ninth, when an RBI single by Giancarlo Servin made it 7-5 against reliever Stephen Rausa (1-0).
Sophomore Tommy Perez, pressed into starting duty, gave ENMU a quality start, allowing four runs (three earned) over six innings.
Texas A&M-Kingsville 6-5, ENMU 0-0 (Saturday) — Right-handers Kobe Jaramillo (6-3) in the opener and Logan Garza (6-2) in the nightcap were too much for the Hounds.
Jarmaillo scattered three hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts in the opener, and catcher Nick Wolff broke open a 1-0 game with a two-run double in the fifth. The Javelinas added two insurance runs in the seventh when ENMU catcher Jack Thompson threw wildly to third on a double steal.
In the second game, left fielder Jack Chapman hit his seventh homer, a one-out solo shot in the second, and the Javelinas added four in the fourth — the last two coming on a two-out throwing error by Thompson on another double steal.
Garza made that lead stand up, allowing five hits with two walks and nine strikeouts.
ENMU junior right-hander Damian Acosta (2-8) allowed seven hits and five runs (three earned) over six innings.
ENMU 11, Texas A&M-Kingsville 10 (Friday) — Perea's RBI single tied the score 10-10, and Williamson started the 10th with a single off Cole Payne (0-1). A walk and a sacrifice set the stage for sophomore Camden Matthews, who was awarded first base when hit bat tipped the glove of Javelinas catcher Nick Wolff.
Perea had three hits and knocked in three runs for the Hounds, while catcher Andres Quintana finished 4-for-5. Both teams had 15 hits.
Texico sophomore right-hander Dalton Thatcher (3-5) worked the final three frames for the win, allowing just two hits and a run.
