4/2/2022 | Baseball | Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

PORTALES, N.M. – Cooper Hamilton took the first pitch he saw into centerfield to score the game winning run as the Hounds bested St. Mary’s, 4-3, in walkoff fashion. The Rattlers won game one by a score of 5-0, as the two teams split the doubleheader. The Hounds now improve to 13-18 on the season, with a 12-17 LSC record. StMU move to 12-21 on the season, and 10-21 in LSC action.

GAME ONE: StMU 5, ENMU 0

The visitors jumped on the board in the first inning, despite not registering a hit. Two walks and a balk put runners on second and third with one out. A towering popup to left field brough home the games first run on a sacrifice fly, 1-0 StMU.

From that point a pitcher duel ensued as each team were held scoreless over the next five frames. Damian Acosta took a no-hitter in the sixth inning, before surrendering a single after 5.1 hitless inning. Steven Medrano allowed just four hits and two walks in five full innings of work, keeping his Rattlers ahead 1-0. The sixth inning is where St. Mary’s picked up a handful of runs after a hit with two runners on forced one run home. Later in the inning, a bases loaded balk brought home the third run of the day for a 3-0 Rattlers lead.

Eastern had no reply, as Medrano had a great game on the mound. St. Mary’s picked up two more hits in the seventh inning and posted a 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame to collect a 5-0 win over ENMU.

NOTABLE STATS

  • The Hounds collected four hits in the game. Sammy Williamson supplied two hits, while Nick Schifftner and Jack Thompson provided a base knock.
  • On the mound, Acosta is handed the loss in 5.1 innings thrown, giving up three runs from two hits with five walks, and seven punchouts. William McBride threw one full inning, surrendering one run on one hit and a walk. Stephen Rausa recorded two strikeouts in 0.2 innings, with two hits and one run.
  • Medrano tossed a complete game shutout for St. Mary’s picking up eight strikeouts and only four hits and two walks allowed.

GAME TWO: ENMU 4, STMU 3

The Rattlers wasted no time to score the game’s first run. A single, followed by a double down the left field line brought the run to the plate for a 1-0 lead. The next batter groundout and pushed the runner form third home, after taking third base on the double, for a 2-0 score line early. St. Mary’s picked up another run in the third inning with a two-run single.

However, the Hounds bats eat into the St. Mary’s lead in the bottom of the third. Andres Quintanastarted the inning with a double to deep left field to get a runner in scoring position. After Quintana advance to second on a wild pitch, Camden Matthews came through with an infield single with two outs for the first run for the Greyhounds, 3-1 StMU. Williamson brought Matthews all the way to third with a double down the left field line. Then, C. Matthews took advantage of a pass ball to score from third to make the game 3-2 after three innings.

Eastern went on to tie the game in the next inning, taking advantage of a wild pitch. With a runner on third and two outs, Quintana drew a walk bringing Rio Granger to the plate. Granger was patient at the plate as ball four sailed over his head, allowing Schifftner to spirit home for the game tying run.

From then, both teams were held at the plate until seventh inning. With the Rattlers at the plate, a leadoff single put a runner on base, and they were moved over to on a sacrifice bunt. With one out and a runner on second, the Greyhounds got out of the inning with a great defensive play. A line drive up the middle was snagged by Dax Edmonds and then stepped on second base for an inning ending double play.

In the bottom of the inning with one out, Jorge Colon worked a walk to represent the winning run at first base. C. Matthews laided down a sacrifice bunt to move over to second, and Williamson was intentionally walked with two outs. Hamilton stepped to the batters box and struck the first pitch he saw into center field for a walkoff win, as Colon scored from second base. The Hounds took home the game 4-3 against after trailing 3-0 at one point.

NOTABLE STATS

  • The Greyhounds scored four runs on six hits in the game, with two RBIs.
  • C. Matthews finished the game 2-3 at the plate, while he and Hamilton provided the RBIs.
  • Rugar Bravo claims the complete game win for Eastern giving up three runs on six hits with 10 K’s on the night.
  • Josh Buske takes the no decision after throwing 4.0+ innings, giving up three runs on five hits and four walks. Anthony Chavez takes the loss in relief, going 2.2 innings and giving up one hit and one run.

FROM THE SOURCE

“In game one we gave them too many opportunities to score with free bases and our bats were dead,” said Head Baseball Coach Riley Price. “For game two, our bats came to life just enough to get the win. (Ruger) Bravo threw a great game and minimized well throughout the entire game,” said Price. “I had no doubt (Cooper) Hamilton would step up big in the end with a hit to walk it off. Always nice having the momentum in our favor going into game four tomorrow”.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • Bravo posted a career best 10 strikeouts in the game, bettering the previous mark of nine he set last weekend against Oklahoma Christian.
  • This is the second walkoff win of the season for the Greyhounds, beating UTPB 10-9 in 12 innings after Quintana provided the game winning hit.
  • St. Mary’s still hold the all-time series lead 11-8, but the Hounds have guaranteed at least a series split against the Rattlers.
  • The series finale is tomorrow, Apr. 3, with first pitch scheduled for 1 pm in a nine inning contest from Greyhound Baseball Field.