Northeastern Baseball Gets Back To Back Victories Over Otero, Taking Down The Rattlers 19-9 In Game 2 Of Region IX Play

Northeastern Baseball earns back to back victories over Otero College after taking them down in game two of the four game series 19-9 on Saturday. Zach McVay was named the DDC Player of the Contest. McVay went 4-5 at the plate, hitting one double, stealing two bases, drawing one walk, scoring two runs and driving in four runs.

The bats were on fire for the Plainsmen, as they were able to gather a total of 13 hits in the contest. The Rattlers took the lead in the top of the first, after a two run home run made the score 2-0. The Plainsmen took the lead in the bottom of the first after Yusei Uzawa homered to center field on the first pitch seen by Northeastern batters. Brayden Stufft then homered to left field, a run scored on a wild pitch and Brendan Clelland doubled to center field, each scoring one run. Northeastern added one more in the second after Max Valerio hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run. 

The Plainsmen added to their lead in the bottom of the third after Stufft doubled, Valerio walked and an error was committed, each scoring one run. Six more runs crossed the plate for Northeastern in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 14-5. McVay singled, scoring two runs, Valerio homered to left, scoring two runs, Harrison Good drew a walk, scoring one run and Uzawa grounded out, scoring one run. Makoy Lucero started the game for the Plainsmen and ended up earning the win. Lucero went 3.2 innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits, walking one and striking out four. Tony Slizowski came in and threw three innings, giving up 5 runs (two earned) on four hits, walking three and striking out four. Korey Koehler came in and walked one batter. Deacon Trenkle threw .2 innings, walking two and striking out two. Matt Yarish finished the game, throwing .2 innings, giving up one hit and striking out two batters. 

McVay and Valerio were a tough one-two punch in the lineup as they each drove in four runs. Stufft, Tanner Peerey and Uzawa each collected multiple hits for the Plainsmen. The Plainsmen had a very strong eye at the plate, as they totalled 18 walks in the contest. Michael Clark and Valerio each walked three times.