T-Birds Advance in Region V Tournament

The New Mexico Junior College Thunderbirds defeated the Cisco College Wranglers 4-2 on Friday night in the first round of the Region V tournament.

Cisco College got on the board first in the top of the fifth inning. Idelfonso Garcia hit a chopper up the middle for the Wranglers and an errant throw from Thunderbird shortstop Brent Iredale allowed the first run of the game to score. 

The T-Birds knotted up the game at 1-1 when third baseman Dylan Jasso scored on a sacrifice fly from second baseman Aaron Lugo in the bottom half of the fifth.

The Thunderbirds navigated the sixth inning perfectly. NMJC drew two walks in the inning and had runners on first and third with two outs. Catcher Lorenzo Morresi was at the plate when Wrangler's pitcher Jaylon Lee threw a wild pitch that scored the go-ahead run in Mark Henning. NMJC ended the sixth inning with their first lead of the game 2-1.

T-Bird starting pitcher EJ Miramontes finished the day going six innings allowing one unearned run and three hits, while punching out five batters.

The T-Bird offense was not done tacking on runs in Weatherford. Left fielder Erick Ballenilla doubled Aaron Lugo home in the bottom of the seventh to extend the Thunderbird lead to 3-1. DH Mark Henning came up big once again for NMJC this time from behind the plate when he knocked in Ballenilla with a double to right center to make the score 4-1.

The reliable reliever Paul Coppinger came in relief of Miramontes in the top of the seventh inning. Coppinger shut down the Wranglers offensively over three innings of work. The 6'8" right-hander surrendered three hits, struck out three batters, and gave up one unearned run in the ninth to claim his first save of the season Friday.

The T-Birds would finish the game on top 4-2 after Coppinger struck out Kenny Dutka, who was the tying run at the plate with a runner on second.

Dylan Jasso finished the game 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, and a run scored. Brent Iredale was 2-for-4. Aaron Lugo went 1-for-1 with two walks, an RBI, and a run scored. Mark Henning finished the night 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.

The Thunderbirds accumulated seven hits and eight walks during Friday's matchup.

NMJC improves to 44-12 on the season and will face the Odessa College Wranglers in the winner's bracket May 13 at 7 p.m. CDT in Weatherford, Texas at Roger Williams Ballpark.