NMJC (BB) Earns the Series Win Over Plainsmen
The Thunderbirds swept Frank Phillips College Sunday to win the series 3-1.
Game 3
The T-Birds defeated Frank Phillips College 7-5 in Game 3.
NMJC struck first in the top of the third inning. The T-Birds singled three straight times to start the third with the second one being an RBI single by Julius Ramirez. Ramirez scored run No. 2 on a wild pitch to put NMJC ahead 2-0 after the top of the third. Frank Phillips scored two runs via an error in the bottom half to tie the game up at 2-2.
Jeter Battles put NMJC back in front on a little league home run that scored Talan Barraza and himself. Felix Rodriguez doubled in two more runs in the inning making the score 6-2 NMJC in the top of the fourth. Frank pushed two runs across in the bottom of the fourth which cut the lead to 6-4 NMJC.
In the sixth inning, Ramirez scored on another wild pitch to make the score 7-4 T-Birds. Frank added a run in the bottom half of the inning ultimately falling 7-5 to NMJC.
Center fielder Felix Rodriguez batted 2-for-3 with two RBIs. DH Julius Ramirez was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Third baseman Jesus Mejias went 2-for-3.
Brayan Orrantia pitched 5.1 innings striking out four while allowing three earned on 10 hits. Orrantia is now 6-1 as a starter on the year.
Santana Hernandez came in relief going 1.2 innings striking out two on no hits to pick up his second save of the season.
The T-Birds ended Game 3 with 10 hits and two errors.
Game 4
Lachlan Maude powered the T-Birds to a 15-7 victory over Frank Phillips College after hitting two homers in Game 4.
Omar Reluz smacked an RBI double to get NMJC on the board in the first. The hit was followed up by an RBI double from Julius Ramirez and the inning was capped off by a 3-run home run from Lachlan Maude to put the T-Birds in command 5-0.
Frank cut the deficit to 5-3 after three innings. However, NMJC scored three runs in the fourth, three more in the sixth, and four in the seventh to dispatch the Plainsmen 15-7 in run-rule fashion.
Third baseman Jesus Mejias was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two walks, and an RBI. Catcher Jorge De Los Santos went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and two runs scored.
Right fielder Felix Rodriguez went 1-for 3 with two RBIs, two walks, and two runs scored. Designated hitter Lachlan Maude batted 3-for-4 with six RBIs and three runs scored.
Maude is second on the team in homers as he sits at 10 long balls for the season. Julius Ramirez is first with 15 home runs on the year which is second in the NJCAA behind Georgia Highlands' Ryan Martin who has 17. Ramirez is tied with Martin for most RBIs in the country at 55.
Starting pitcher Ricardo Rojas earned the win going 3.2 innings striking out six, allowing one earned run, and four hits. Rojas is 4-1 as a starter this season. Monty Bognar came in relief for three innings as he struck out four batters and allowed two earned runs.
The T-Birds ended Game 4 with 15 hits and two errors.
The Thunderbirds are first in the WJCAC at 11-1 as they hold a one-game lead on Midland College, Odessa College, and Howard College (10-2).
NMJC improves 21-10 (11-1) and will play El Paso CC in a doubleheader at Ray Birmingham Field Friday, March 28 starting at 12 p.m. MDT.