T-Bird (BB) Sits 2nd in WJCAC After Hawks Series Split

NMJC baseball split with Howard College on Saturday afternoon to sit just one game back of Midland in the WJCAC standings.

Game 3

The T-Birds bats went cold in Game 3 as they suffered a 10-3 loss on Saturday.

NMJC surrendered the first run of the game in the bottom of the first to trail Howard 1-0. 

A 2-run double by Talan Barraza in the top of the second pushed NMJC in front 2-1. Howard scored two runs in the bottom of the second and the bottom of the third to grab a 5-2 lead. NMJC added one more in the top of the fifth to pull within two, 5-3. 

The Hawks scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to lead 10-3. NMJC and Howard were held scoreless the last two innings as the Hawks persevered 10-3.    

Left fielder Jeter Battles was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Shortstop Talan Barraza was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. 

Starter Dominick Maese picked up the loss going 4.2 innings. The left hander walked five while allowing seven hits and seven earned runs.  

The T-Birds registered eight hits and two errors in the seven-run loss.

Game 4

NMJC earned the split Saturday afternoon, taking down Howard 11-10 in Game 4.

The T-Birds began the game with a 3-0 lead after three innings of play. NMJC scored a run in each of the first three innings. The Hawks scored two runs in the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-2. NMJC put two runs across in the fifth via a pair of wild pitches. The T-Birds traded a run a piece with Howard in the sixth to move the score to 6-3. 

The Thunderbirds loaded the bases in the seventh. Jeter Battles received a HBP to add a run and make it 7-3. Jorge De Los Santos cleared the bases on a triple in the next at bat to extend the lead to 10-3. Then, Julius Ramirez hit his second sac fly of the day to push the game into run rule territory, 11-3.

The Thunderbirds surrendered five runs in the bottom of the seventh and two more runs in the eighth to maintain a narrow 11-10 lead.  

NMJC was holding on by the skin of their teeth in the bottom of the ninth, locked in a bases-loaded jam with two outs. A groundout to second ended the game and preserved the T-Bird victory.  

Second baseman Jorge De Los Santos recorded a triple, three RBIs, and a run scored. DH Julius Ramirez finished with two RBIs. Ramirez ends the series third in homers at 21 and second in NJCAA for RBIs at 83.

Center fielder Casen Savage was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Catcher Lachlan Maude went 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, and two runs scored.  

First baseman Lane Arroyos and shortstop Talan Barraza both were 1-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. 

Starting pitcher Ricardo Rojas went six innings allowing three earned and four hits. Rojas received the win to move to 8-1 on the season. Justin Nicks closed the game going 1.1 innings allowing two hits and no runs to earn the save. 

NMJC is 23-5 in conference and is tied with Odessa College in second place in the WJCAC. The pair are one game back of first place Midland at 24-4. 

The Thunderbirds will play No. 6 Midland College April 25 in Midland, Texas in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. CDT.