CNJ Staff Photo: Kevin Wilson West Texas A&M catcher Kevin Els lays down the tag on a sliding Seth Clabaugh in the fourth inning of the opener in Friday’s doubleheader at Greyhound Field. The Greyhounds claimed a 5-4 win in the game.
CNJ staff
A split with West Texas A&M has Eastern New Mexico University on the playoff bubble in the Lone Star Conference.
Junior right fielder Ethan Wagner keyed a four-run first inning with a three-run double, and the Greyhounds held on for a 5-4 victory the first game of a Lone Star Conference doubleheader at Greyhound Field.
Second baseman Tyler Reagan went 2-for-4 in the second game, as the Buffaloes used a three-run eighth inning for a 4-2 comeback victory.
ENMU (26-26, 21-21 LSC) entered the day in the seventh place, but just one game out of fourth place as five teams sought the final three spots in the six-team postseason conference tournament.
After Friday’s game, a half-game separates fourth-place Tarleton State (24-27, 21-20) and eighth-place Southeastern Oklahoma (24-24, 20-20).
The Greyhounds are tied with Central Oklahoma (26-27) and Southwestern Oklahoma (28-23), which both have 21-21 conference marks.
Abilene Christian and Angelo State (both 38-16, 29-13) are tied for second, one game behind Cameron (39-13, 30-12).
The Greyhounds and Buffaloes conclude their series today with 1 p.m. doubleheader.
First game highlights
Evan Orsak ended a three-run WT rally in the sixth by getting Christian Figueroa to ground out with two runners on, and survived a leadoff double to pitch a scoreless seventh for his second save of the season.
Jerry Manning (5-2) went the first 5 2/3 innings to pick up the win.
Figueroa, Heath Baker, Rob Mann and Coty Wilson all collected two hits for the Buffaloes.
Second game highlights
Left fielder Brad Elbers started a three-run eighth off Greyhound starter Ismael Solis (2-3) with an RBI single up center, followed by Reagan’s double and a single by pinch hitter Will McLaughlin.
Sergio Marquez (3-5) got the win with one inning of work.
Seth Clabaugh went 2-for-5 with a solo homer in the sixth, and scored on an outfield error in the fourth for the Greyhounds’ runs.