Hounds beat NMHU on squeeze bunt

PORTALES — Joey Aguilar’s one-out, bases-loaded squeeze bunt drove in Mark Wallace with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth Tuesday night as Eastern New Mexico University edged New Mexico Highlands 7-6 in a non-conference baseball game at Greyhound Field.

The Greyhounds (7-11), avenging an 18-9 loss to Highlands at home in February, got four strong innings from junior right-hander Jesse Garcia-Perez and carried a 6-0 lead into the sixth inning.

Highlands (4-10) pulled even 6-6 with a five-run seventh against Jimmy Wells, tying the score on a two-out, third-strike passed ball against catcher Brett Scherer that allowed NMHU’s Cam Schick to score from third base.

ENMU took the lead in the first when Matt Elliott beat out a bunt and came around on singles by Wallace and Justin Gee, then added five runs in the third on three hits and four Cowboys errors.

Mark Wallace, who led ENMU’s 12-hit attack by going 3-for-5, started the bottom of the ninth with an infield single and advanced when Justin Gee bunted for a hit. Tyler Hayes sacrificed the runners up and Mark Hinojosa was walked intentionally before Aguilar dropped a bunt that scored Wallace from third without a play.

ENMU outhit the Cowboys 12-7, with Gee, Hayes and Aguilar all getting a pair of hits.

Junior Trevor Davis (2-4), rocked as a starter in Monday’s 17-11 Lone Star Conference South Division loss to West Texas A&M, was the sixth Hounds pitcher and picked up the win by pitching the top of the ninth.

ENMU 7, New Mexico Highlands 6

NM Highlands 000 001 500 — 6 7 6

ENMU 105 000 001 — 7 12 2

Daniel Herlehy, Derek Adams (5), Rafael Sixtos (7), Justin Munoz (9) and Lucas Hastings; Jesse Garcia-Perez, Antwhan Yazzie (5), Josh Sellers (6), Jimmy Wells (7), David Swinconos (8), Trevor Davis (9) and Brett Scherer. W — Davis (2-4). L — Sixtos (1-4). DP — ENMU 1. LOB — New Mexico Highlands 7, ENMU 12. 2B — ENMU: Mark Wallace. T — 3:03. A — 50.