No. 16 T-Birds swept by Midland at home

HOBBS, N.M. — It was a tough day on the mound and in the field for the No. 16 New Mexico Junior College baseball team as the Thunderbirds allowed 25 runs and 31 hits while committing seven errors in getting swept in a doubleheader by Midland College 14-9 and 11-9 Friday at Ray Birmingham Thunderbird Field.

Despite the troubles, NMJC (31-14, 19-7) still had its chances and rallied in the ninth inning of game two to send it to extra innings.

Down 9-7 in the ninth and the first two hitters retired, a single by Zac Sanders got things going for NMJC.

JP Rousseau was hit by a pitch before a Luis Pintor single to center scored Sanders to cut the Midland (27-18, 19-7) lead to 9-8.

Branden Grieger followed with a game-tying single to center before Travon Benton grounded out to end the rally.

Much like NMJC, Midland's rally in the 10th started with two outs as T-Bird closer Brett Worthen hit a batter then surrendered a walk after a pair of strikeouts. That's when Josh Narvaiz singled to left to score the go-ahead run for the Chaps. Midland added another to make it 11-9.

NMJC wouldn't threaten in the bottom of the 10th as the Chaps completed the sweep and ended the T-Birds' eight-game winning streak.

Worthen got the loss, going an inning and giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts. Mark Simon got the start and went six innings and gave up five runs (three earned) on six hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.

Grieger went 3-for-4 in the second game with a home run and two RBI, Jacy Cave went 3-for-5 with a double, triple and two RBI and Sanders and Jeff Deimling added home runs with both picking up two hits apiece.

Sebastian Palacios got the win in relief for Midland, going 1 1/3 innings and giving up no runs, two hits with one walk.

Narvaiz led Midland at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and three runs while Yahir Gurrola went 2-for-5 with a home run, double and four RBI.

In game one, NMJC led 7-5 after two innings but a two-run fourth and a three-run fifth gave the Chaps a 10-7 advantage.

The T-Birds cut the lead to two at 10-8 after six before a four-run seventh by Midland put the game out of reach.

Jean-Francois Dionne got the loss, going 4 2/3 innings and giving up 10 runs (five earned) on 10 hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

Pintor went 2-for-4 for NMJC with a pair of doubles and an RBI, Austin Botello was 2-for-4 with three RBI, Angel Vega went 2-for-3 with two RBI while Deimling was 2-for-4.

Jason Conway got the win for Midland, going 2 2/3 innings in relief and giving up one run (unearned) on one hit with four strikeouts and two walks.

Narvaiz led the Chaps at the plate, going 4-for-5 with three RBI while Brent Stewart went 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.

The two teams finish the four-game series today in Midland with a doubleheader scheduled to start at noon (CST).