Hounds take series with 8-0 victory

Freedom New Mexico

Senior right-hander Russell Campbell pitched an abbreviated one-hit shutout and Eastern New Mexico University roughed up Central Oklahoma 8-0 on Sunday at Greyhound Field, taking its third win in the four-game Lone Star Conference baseball series.

The contest, scheduled for nine innings, was delayed for an hour by lightning after the first inning, then called after another lightning delay before the bottom of the fifth.

The result leaves the Greyhounds (21-21, 19-17 LSC) tied for fifth place with Texas A&M-Kingsville in the LSC with two weekends left. The top six of 12 teams advance to the conference tournament in early May.

The Hounds and Javelinas are each a game ahead of seventh-place Tarleton State. ENMU finishes conference play with four-game series at Northeastern State this weekend and at West Texas A&M April 23-24.

Campbell (2-5) allowed only two batters to reach for the Bronchos (12-24, 9-23) en route to his first career shutout, with neither getting past first base. He walked Casey Bruns in the second inning — Bruns was thrown out stealing — and gave up a leadoff single to Jason Monko in the third.

ENMU jumped in front on catcher Paden Vendrely’s two-out RBI single in the first, then erupted for five in the second to chase UCO starter Luke Yost (2-1). Sean Cruce and Vendrely hit run-scoring doubles in the frame while designated hitter Mitch Wolfe capped the rally with a two-run single to left.

Luis Quinones hit an RBI single in the third and Kevin Thompson tripled home a run in the fourth to complete the scoring.

ENMU finished with 10 hits, with Vendrely and second baseman Garrett Cook getting two apiece.

ENMU steps outside the conference today for a noon (MST) tilt at Wayland Baptist. The Hounds complete their home slate with a 6 p.m. non-conference game on Wednesday against University of the Southwest.