NMJC (BB) Advances to Face Weatherford on Saturday, Eliminates Odessa

The T-Birds defeated Odessa College in a 13-inning thriller to survive and advance in the Region V Tournament on Friday, May 16. 

NMJC will face Weatherford College in an elimination game Saturday, May 17 at 11 a.m. CDT. Weatherford lost 9-6 Friday afternoon to McLennan.

Odessa was the first on the board during Friday's roller coaster contest. The Wranglers took advantage of two errors to score two runs in the bottom of the first.

Left fielder Jeter Battles cleared the bases on a double to left center field in the top of the second as NMJC took their first lead of the game 3-2. Center fielder Casen Savage added a run in the third with a sac fly that scored Talan Barraza and made the advantage 4-2. Odessa leveled the score with runs in the fourth and sixth innings. 

Jorge De Los Santos came up to bat with two outs and the bases juiced in the seventh inning. De Los Santos hit a routine ground ball to short but a throwing error to second scored all three runs and gave NMJC a commanding 7-4 lead. The Wranglers picked up a run in the bottom of the eighth, however NMJC got it right back on a solo homer by Julius Ramirez in the ninth.

NMJC went into the bottom of the ninth ahead 8-5. Odessa scored a run on an infield single with two outs to make the score 8-6. The Wranglers were down to their last strike when Nathaniel Mendoza got a hold of one and leveled the score with a 2-run homer to send it to extras. 

Odessa loaded the bases in the 12th and needed just one run across to defeat the T-Birds. Reliever Justin Nicks drew a ground ball to second and a 4-6-3 double play ended the inning and kept NMJC's hopes alive. 

Second baseman Luis Urias doubled to start the 13th inning. A bunt by Jeter Battles led to a throwing error by the Odessa's pitcher which scored Urias. Callum Donnelly hit a sacrifice fly that scored Battles and pushed the lead to 10-8 after the top of the 13th. 

The T-Birds picked up two quick outs in the bottom of the 13th, but an error at third put the tying run at the plate. A fly out to center ended the game and the Thunderbirds advanced to face Weatherford College on Saturday.     

Left fielder Jeter Battles went 3-for-6 with a double, three RBIs, and two runs scored. DH Julius Ramirez drove in his 100th RBI of the season recording a single, a homer, and two runs scored. Jorge De Los Santos was 1-for-3 with three RBIs. 

First baseman Lane Arroyos was 2-for-5 with two doubles and a run scored. Second baseman Luis Urias and shortstop Talan Barraza both scored two runs each.    

Starting pitcher Ricardo Rojas went 4 2/3 innings allowing eight hits and one earned run. Brandon Stewart threw 3 1/3 innings of relief allowing two earned on four hits. Justin Nicks registered the win throwing five innings giving up three earned on four hits.

McLennan CC will play the winner of NMJC vs. Weatherford at 2 p.m. CDT on Saturday in the championship game. If the T-Birds were to beat Weatherford, they would have to defeat McLennan twice in order to head to the College World Series. The if necessary game would be Sunday, May 18 and the time is TBA.  

Fans can find the tournament bracket here.

The winner this week will be crowned the Region V Champs and Southwest District Champions as they will represent Region V at the NJCAA DI College Baseball World Series. The 10-team tournament runs May 24-31 at Sam Suplizio Field in Grand Junction, Colo.

Fans can watch Saturday morning's game against Weatherford on TSBN sports by clicking here.

The Thunderbirds face Weatherford College in an elimination game Saturday, May 17 at 11 a.m. CDT in Odessa, Texas at Wrangler Field.