T-Birds dig large hole in game two, split with Frank Phillips

HOBBS, N.M. — The New Mexico Junior College baseball team looked like it might just rally from a 12-2, third-inning deficit in game two of a doubleheader against Frank Phillips on Friday at Ray Birmingham Thunderbird Field.

The Thunderbirds, who had won game one 9-2, cut the Plainsmen lead to 14-11 and had the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh, but a long flyout ended the inning and was the last threat NMJC made as it lost 14-11 to split the doubleheader. 

NMJC coach Josh Simpson said the first three innings in game two, where NMJC (20-11, 10-4) gave up 12 runs with only five being earned, was too much to rally from against Frank Phillips (8-17, 6-8).

"We got really sped up in those first three innings," Simpson said. "We didn't slow any bats down, we weren't focused on what we were trying to do on the mound and we made mistakes defensively. You just can't give a team in this league 12 runs. It's too much. It was just too much.

"But we didn't quit. We had the go-ahead run at the plate in the seventh inning. That's all you can ask for when you are down 10 runs."

Edwin Suarez got the start and loss for NMJC, going two innings and giving up five runs (all earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Branden Grieger went 3-for-4 for NMJC at the plate with an RBI, Angel Vega was 2-for-4 with a home run, double, four RBI and three runs while Jacy Cave was 2-for-5 with a home run (his team-high 11th, tied for fourth in the nation) and three RBI.

James Valenzuela picked up the win for Frank Phillips, going four innings and giving up eight runs (six earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks. Manuel Valle got the save, pitching a perfect final two innings with two strikeouts.

Joe Nostrand led Plainsmen at the plate by going 4-for-6 with six RBI, Luis Amaro was 3-for-5 with four RBI while Taylor Grady was 3-for-4.

In the first game, a four-run fourth by NMJC gave the T-Birds the lead for good during a 9-2 win behind the pitching of Jean-Francois Dionne.

The sophomore went the distance and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits with nine strikeouts and no walks as he threw just 79 pitches. He's now 3-2 on the season with a 3.72 ERA.

NMJC tied the game in the fourth on an RBI single by Luis Pintor and scored two more when a ball hit by Grieger to left was dropped to take a 4-2 lead. Travon Benton followed with an RBI single to give the T-Birds a 5-2 lead.

The T-Birds added two more in the fifth before Benton closed out the scoring by leading off the sixth with a homer to right.

Benton finished 3-for-4 in the game with three RBI. Pintor, Vega, Austin Botello and Jeff Deimling each had two hits apiece as well for the T-Birds.

Walker Wharton got the loss for Frank Phillips, going four innings and giving up eight runs (four earned) on nine hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Johnny Baiada led the Plainsmen at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double.

The two teams meet again for a doubleheader noon today in Hobbs to close out the four-game series.