Box Score PORTALES, NM --- Eastern New Mexico scored nine runs in the first two innings of play and went on to defeat Wayland Baptist 20-3 at Greyhound Field on Tuesday afternoon. It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Pioneers who dropped to 10-14. ENMU improved to 3-11.
All three of the WBU runs came off the long ball. Sophomore first baseman Nick Noll hit a two-run shot in the third and Miguel Pagan blasted a solo homer to lead off the fifth. It was the junior third baseman's sixth home run of the season.
Eddie Allen, Kevin Hennessey and Pagan had two hits each. Hennessey had WBU's only double of the game.
Wayland opened the contest with bases loaded and nobody out after two walks and a hit batter, but a double play ball back to the pitcher ended what might have been a big inning.
After the Greyhounds put a four spot on the board in the bottom of the inning, the Pioneers once again had a chance to make some noise when Noll walked to lead off the inning and Ben Christian singled to right. A line out to center and a strikeout preceded Allen's bunt single, but for the second straight inning Wayland failed to change the scoreboard.
WBU used six pitchers in the game. ENMU batters got 19 hits of Pioneer pitching, walked six times and struck out twice. Wayland batters recorded eight hits off three Greyhound pitchers, were issued four walks, but struck out five times and hit into the one double play.
The Pioneers return to Wilder Field on this weekend for a Sooner Athletic Conference series against Oklahoma Christian University. The Eagles are 8-4 overall and 3-1 in conference play. First pitch for Friday's doubleheader is scheduled to be thrown at 4 p.m. The single game on Saturday will begin at 1 p.m.
