Russell and Becton with huge days at the plate lead Tbirds to DH split
*Photo Courtesy Fox Sports Hobbs
Hobbs, NEW MEXICO
The New Mexico Junior College Baseball team split the double header with NMMI at Ray Birningham Field winning game one 12-6 and falling in game two 9-8. Full writeups below:
GAME 1
Kody Russell had himself a day as he clubbed two three-run home runs in the fifth and sixth innings to carry the Thunderbirds at the plate.
NMJC Thunderbirds beat NMMI thanks to 13 hits, including five extra base hits.
The game was back-and-forth heading into the fifth, with three lead changes.
NMJC Thunderbirds pulled out the win thanks to a strong fifth inning. The Thunderbirds went up for good on a three-run home run by Russell off Preston Inman, plating Daniel Herrera and Zac Sanders.
Alex Pinedo got the win for NMJC despite allowing six runs over seven innings. He struck out nine, walked three and surrendered seven hits.
NMJC easily handled The NMMI pitching as six hitters combined for 10 hits, 12 RBIs and 10 runs scored.
Additional home runs for the Thunderbirds came when Angel De Jesus homered in the second inning, Larry Leitha homered in the fifth inning, and Russell homered in the fifth and sixth innings.
Inman took the loss for NMMI. He lasted just two-thirds of an inning, walked one, struck out none, and allowed five runs.
The Thunderbirds jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Luis Pintor kicked things off for NMJC Thunderbirds with a single. A stolen base then moved Pintor from first to second. Sanders singled, scoring Pintor and Travon Benton.
GAME 2
Jesse Becton drilled two home runs, but it wasn't enough to carry NMJC Thunderbirds to a win on Friday, as they fell to NMMI 9-8 at NMJC.
NMMI was sparked by Justin Felix and Chris Suarez, who teamed up for five hits and five RBIs.
Wyatt Kelly was charged with the loss. He lasted just 1 1/3 innings, walked one, struck out three, and allowed one run.
The bottom of the first saw NMJC Thunderbirds take an early lead, 2-0. JessDeimling kicked things off for NMJC Thunderbirds with a single. Becton singled, scoring Larry Leitha and Deimling .
NMMI scored three runs in the second inning, and then followed it up with three more in the Seventh. In the second, NMMI scored on an RBI double by Felix, plating Winston Welch.
NMJC Thunderbirds survived NMMI's surge and put up two runs of its own in the fourth. NMJC Thunderbirds scored on a two-run home run by Luis Pintor.
NMMI brought home one run in the fifth inning, and matched that run total in the Sixth. In the fifth, NMMI scored on a solo home run by Johsn Jensen.
It didn't take long for NMJC Thunderbirds to respond as it scored one run of its own in the fifth. NMJC Thunderbirds scored on a solo home run by Becton.
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