Portales, N.M. - It took over thirty runs and over forty hits to settle the series opener between the Eagles and Greyhounds on Friday afternoon in Portales.
 
Oklahoma Christian shook up the batting order, and it worked to the tune of 18 (check this) runs, led by OC scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Preston King was batting second and got to second on a one-out double, and Hank Heiselbetz batted third and brought King home by reaching third base on an RBI triple.
 
Blake Empkey, who had four RBIs, picked up his first on an RBI sacrifice fly, and Hunter Jones, who reached base six times, was a part of three straight singles, brought home the third run of the inning with an RBI single.
 
Eastern New Mexico responded by scoring four runs on three hits to take a 4-3 lead into the second inning.
 
OC kept the offensive output rolling in the second inning as Heisbetz reached first on a walk, and Empkey blasted a two-run home run to put the Eagles back on top, 5-4. And after Marcus Johnson reached on an error and stole second base, Chance Westervelt gave the Eagles another run with an RBI single.
 
The Eagles held the Greyhounds to just one run in the bottom of the second to hold a 6-5 lead after two innings, but ENMU put up a seven spot in the bottom of the third to take a 12-6 lead into the fourth inning.
 
Back-to-back-to-back singles led to a run for Oklahoma Christian in the top of the fourth, cutting the lead to 12-7. Empkey, Marcus Johnson, and Westervelt had the singles, and Westervelt came through with another RBI single.
 
Nathan Kwan shut down the Greyhounds offensive efforts in two innings of relief in the 4th and fifth innings. Kwan had five of the Eagles pitcher's six strikeouts in his appearance.
 
Jaren Hill reached base on a walk in the top of the fifth and traded places with Jayvien Joesph, who reached on a fielder's choice. An Ethan Box single led to a Heiselbetz RBI single, and after Empkey was hit by a pitch, Johnson and Westervelt picked up more RBIs on a double and a single. The four-run inning cut the ENMU lead to 12-10.
 
Empkey scored Heiesbelbetz, who reached on a walk, on an RBI single to center field. Empkey went 4-4, with four RBIs, four runs, was hit by two pitches, and had a sacrifice fly in one of the most impressive performances of the season.
 
ENMU tacked on three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 15-12 lead.
 
In the 7th the Eagles scored six runs on four hits, and an error to take a 18-15 lead. Jaren Hill highlighted the inning with a grand slam, Ethan Box had an RBI double, and Johnson had an RBI fielder's choice in the six-run inning.
 
Eastern responded by scoring five runs in the bottom of the 7th to take a 20-18 lead into the 8th inning.
 
Grant Lake tied the game with a two-run home run down the left field line to tie the game in the top of the eighting inning, Lake also scored a run in the game.
 
Jayden Saylor shutdown ENMU in the bottom of the eighth, and the Eagles offense went back to work in the top of the ninth. Empkey was hit by a pitch, Johnson singled, and Westervelt moved them over to second and third with a sacrifice bunt.
 
Hunter Jones got the big hit, giving the Eagles the go ahead run on an RBI single to the shortstop. Jones went 4-5 in the game, reached twice on walks, and had two RBIs.
 
A double and a single tied the game in the bottom of the 9th, and a hit by pitch put a runner in scoring position to win the game. And with 49 hits combined, the 50th hit won it for Eastern on an RBI single.
 
Eight Eagles had at least one RBI, nine of the ten in the lineup had at least one hit, including five Eagles with four hits (Box, Empkey, Johnson, Westervelt, and Jones), and all ten Eagles scored runs.
 
Up Next
 
The Eagles and Greyhounds will matchup for the series doubleheader beginning tomorrow at noon.