Game Recap: Baseball | 2/8/2020 6:34:00 PM | Zac Alfers

Eastern New Mexico baseball came up just short in an offensive showdown against Texas A&M International, falling by a 12-9 final.

Third baseman Jospeh Zubia hit the first Greyhound home run of the season with a two-run shot in the bottom of the first. Zubia finished 2-for-5 at the plate and also scored a run. Center fielder Malcolm Smith tallied his second straight multi-hit game, hitting an efficient .667 in three at bats while also scoring a pair of runs, drawing a walk and stealing a base.

Texas A&M International wasted no time breaking up the tie ball game as they scored two runs in the first before recording an out. Starting pitcher Joel Torres had his back to the wall but showed great composure as he pitched himself out of the jam. With a pair of runners in scoring position and no outs, Torres recorded three consecutive strikeouts to get the Hounds defense off the field.

In the bottom of the first, short stop Daniel Hunt was able to work the count and get himself on base with patient hitting as he drew a walk. The next batter, Zubia belted a ball down the left field line and over the fence to tie the game at 2-2.

The Dustdevils would regain their advantage with three runs in the second before the Hounds answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Catcher Mario Armendariz hit a triple to deep right center, scoring right fielder Alex Kuhn on the play. Armendariz was able to get into the opposing pitchers head planted on third base as he forced a balk and crossed home plate.

The Greyhounds trailed 6-4 through the first three frames and erupted for a four-run inning in the bottom of the fourth. Left fielder Blake Carter led of the inning with a perfectly placed bunt single before stealing second base during the next at bat. Back-to-back walks from the Dustdevils pitching staff brought Hunt to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs. Hunt sent the ball right back where it came from, dribbling through the pitcher’s legs and up the middle of the infield for a two-run single. Hunt would score following a wild pitch but not before second baseman Trevor Moses sent an RBI single to right field.

International jumped back up top 9-8 after plating three in the top of the sixth before Smith tied the game at nine runs apiece when the Hounds came back up to bat. The Difference in the ball game was a three-run seventh inning from the Dustdevils as the Green and Silver only managed one base knock in the final three innings of play.

The High Plains squad will look to close out the series tomorrow with first pitch slated for noon.