Thunderbirds crush Hawks in Big Springs

Ty Stephenson pitches for NMJC during a home game earlier this year. Stephenson pitched the final three innings Tuesday for the save as NMJC beat Howard College 14-6.

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The New Mexico Junior College baseball team pulled away late to beat Howard College 14-6 Tuesday in a non-conference game in Big Spring.

The Thunderbirds scored three times in the top of the first, but gave those runs right back in the bottom of the frame. Howard then took a 4-3 lead with one run in the bottom of the second. NMJC trailed until the top of the fifth when the T-Birds scored three times to re-take the lead.

The T-Birds added on run in the seventh, two in the eighth, and five in the ninth before Howard scored twice in the bottom of the ninth.

Every batter in the T-Birds' lineup had at least one hit except for leadoff man Rody Baker, though he did reach on a walk and scored a run.

Soterio Ramirez and Ryan Rijo each homered for the T-Birds. Ramirez was 3-for-6 with two runs, two RBI as well as a double. Rijo finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI, four runs scored and a pair of walks.

Joaquin Ballesteros, Daniel Hernandez, and Jake Dickerson all had multiple hits for NMJC while Hernandez, Dickerson, and Jacob Cubillos all scored multiple runs. Colton Buckner and Joab Gonzalez also had hits for the T-Birds.

Anthony Chavez started the game, but only lasted two innings. He allowed four runs on four hits while walking one and striking out three. Chris Jefferson took over in relief and got the win. Jefferson allowed three hits and a walk over three scoreless innings of work. Brent Pronger pitched on inning for the T-Birds while Ty Stephenson closed out the final three innings of work for a save.

The T-Birds are now 15-5 on the season and will be back in action this weekend with a four game series against Odessa College. NMJC will play a doubleheader on Friday at Odessa before hosting the Wranglers on Saturday for another doubleheader.