College baseball: Angelo State sweeps Greyhounds

PORTALES — Angelo State baseball jumped out to early leads and never looked back to earn a pair of victories over Eastern New Mexico University during Saturday's doubleheader in Portales.

The Rams' 9-5 win in game one started with a four run the top of the first thanks to a pair of two-out, two-RBI hits from first baseman Andrew Morales and third baseman Jacob Boston off Greyhounds starter Keenan Dodd.

ENMU responded with a two-out, two-RBI single of its own from center fielder Reynaldo Guillen in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit in half, but the Greyhounds never could take the lead despite later scoring in three straight innings.

In the third second baseman Alex De La Cruz doubled to lead off the inning before advancing to third on a passed ball and swiping home on a pick off attempt.

Left fielder Chris Padilla started the bottom of the fourth with a bang, knocking his team-leading third home run of the season to left field and in the fifth third baseman Garlind Webster plated ENMU's final run of the game with a sac fly.

A throwing error by Dodd and a sacrifice fly by Boston for his third RBI of the game led to Angelo State's fifth and sixth runs in the third inning.

Back-to-back doubles plated another pair of runs for the Rams in the fourth and left fielder Michael Urquidi's single and two steals set up designated hitter Brad Mathiowetz to knock him in with a groundout to second for the final run of the game.

Dodd was saddled with the loss after pitching three innings, allowing five earned runs off six hits and two walks while striking out two.

Angelo State reliever Jared Velasco earned his first win of the season after taking over for starter Shane Browning in the third inning. Velasco finished with one earned run over one inning, allowing two hits and two walks.

Cole Brandon tallied his second save of the season after closing out the game with one hit, one run ball over three and two thirds innings.

In game two the Rams jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of three singles and a pair of Greyhounds errors, ultimately earning a 6-1 win.

Catcher Julian Heredia knocked in De La Cruz with a single in the fourth for the Greyhounds' lone run.

Angelo State added runs off of a wild pitch by ENMU starter Cesar Capellan and a single by shortstop Nick Novak in the fourth and a home run by Boston and a throwing error by Greyhounds shortstop Endy Villalona in the fifth to complete the scoring.

Capellan took the loss after giving up three earned runs in four and a third innings courtesy of six hits and four walks.

Rams starter Trent Baker earned the win after allowing one run over five innings, while tallying more strikeouts (seven) than base runners allowed (six).

In the series opener on Friday a three-run first inning for Angelo State proved too much for ENMU to overcome in the Greyhounds 4-1 loss.

The Rams took back-to-back walks to start the game before left fielder Mitch Henshaw added the first RBI of the game with a single to center, later advancing to third off a RBI double from Boston and scoring after another set of back-to-back walks.

A Mathiowetz double and a RBI single from Morales wrapped up the scoring in the seventh.

The Greyhounds lone run came in the fifth after first baseman Andrew Stubbs doubled and designated hitter Paul Tapia drove him in with a single down the line.

Angelo State starting pitcher Tyler Lesley added his fourth win of the season after allowing three hits, two walks and one run over eight innings. Kellen Rholl struck out the side to close out the game and earn his fourth save of the year.

ENMU starter Austin Paisar failed to make it out of the first inning as he picked up his first loss of the year, walking four and allowing three runs.

Jonathan Joy pitched well in relief, giving up seven hits and one walk but just one run over the final eight and a third innings on the mound for the Greyhounds.