T-Birds split two with No. 16 Howard College

HOBBS, N.M. — The New Mexico Junior College baseball team bounced back from a rough, extra-inning loss in game one to beat No. 16 Howard College in game two and split a doubleheader Friday at Ray Birmingham Thunderbird Field.

Despite a strong effort from starting pitcher Mark Simon in game one, the Thunderbirds dropped the contest 7-1 in 11 innings after leaving 13 runners on base before bouncing back to win 5-2 in game two thanks to the complete-game victory from Jean-Francois Dionne.

In the first game, the T-Birds (24-12, 13-5) and Hawks (26-9, 14-4) were tied 1-1 after each scored a run in the second inning. The score remained that way until NMJC appeared it was going to break through in the fifth against Howard starter Kenny Roder.

A lead-off single by JP Rousseau, an error and a sacrifice bunt moved Rousseau to third (who was then lifted for pinch runner Kody Russell) with one out. With the Howard infield in, Branden Grieger laced a ground ball to short that was taken on the run. Russell sprinted for home but Howard's throw was in time to get the out and keep the game tied 1-1.

With Roder and Simon (who was lifted after the seventh inning) pitching well, the score remained 1-1 going into the eighth.

Roder was still on the mound and gave up a lead-off double to Grieger. Travon Benton laid down a bunt to sacrifice Grieger to third, but reached safely as the Hawks tried to get the out at third with no success.

With runners on first and third and no outs, Howard intentionally walked NMJC's most dangerous hitter in Jacy Cave (and his team-leading 38 RBI and 12 home runs) to load the bases with no outs as the T-Birds were on the cusp of taking the opener.

NMJC's Angel Vega flied a ball high to left field, but it wasn't deep enough to score the run and the Hawks lifted Roder for reliever Jose Quezada. The right-hander struck out Austin Botello (who went 3-for-4 in the game) and Jeff Deimling to get Howard out of the jam.

However, NMJC looked like it may win it in the ninth as a lead-off walk to Zac Sanders and a bunt single by Jimmy Cubillos put runners on first and second with no outs.

Yet again Howard wiggled out of trouble as a failed bunt attempt by NMJC followed by a double play kept the game tied 1-1 going into the 10th.

After pitching three scoreless innings in relief, Howard got to Trenton Rousseau in the 11th aided by a lead-off error by the T-Birds. The Hawks went on to score six runs in the frame – none earned – as the T-Birds eventually lost 7-1.

Simon got the no decision, going seven innings and giving up one run on six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. Rousseau got the loss, giving up six runs (none earned) on two hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Quezada got the win for Howard, going 3 2/3 innings of relief and giving up no runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.

NMJC coach Josh Simpson said he challenged his players between games after the tough loss.

"It wasn't high fives and pats on the back saying go get them again – I can say that much," Simpson said. "It was a challenge of character and toughness. That's a program that has kept us out of the (NJCAA) World Series a couple times and we've kept them out too. It's a heated rivalry. That's Howard. You got to take advantage of opportunities to beat them and we didn't. I tested them after that loss and I tested them after the win. We got to get going."

NMJC got the message as the T-Birds scored at least a run in each of the first three innings to build a 4-0 lead and Dionne was stellar on the mound to lead the team to a 5-2 win.

The right-hander Dionne held Howard scoreless until the Hawks' Russell Messler hits a two-out, two-run home run in the seventh inning to spoil the shutout. The sophomore went all seven innings and gave up two runs on six hits (five of them coming with two outs in the inning) with six strikeouts and no walks.

At the plate for NMJC, Vega and Rousseau were each 2-for-3 with an RBI, Benton was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a double while Grieger was 1-for-2 with two runs and a triple.

Zach Winn got the loss for Howard, going five innings and giving up four runs (one earned) on five hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

The two teams close out the four-game series with a doubleheader noon (CST) Saturday in Big Spring, Texas.