No. 19 T-Birds go 1-3 at San Jac Tournament of Champions

SUGAR LAND, Texas — The 19th-ranked New Mexico Junior College baseball team went 1-3 at the San Jac Tournament of Champions this weekend.

The Thunderbirds, now 3-5 on the season, defeated Navarro College (5-2) on Saturday and lost to LSU-Eunice (4-0) and San Jacinto College (11-8) on Friday and Baton Rouge Community College (7-3) on Sunday.

In Saturday's win over Navarro, the first eight batters of the game for the T-Birds reached base and it led to a five-run first – highlighted by a two-run homer by Angel Vega. Branden Grieger, Terance Barela and Zac Sanders also had RBIs in the inning.

It was more than enough for NMJC sophomore Jean-Francois Dionne (1-1) as the right-hander went six innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk to pick up the win.

Brett Worthen earned his third save in three tries by striking out the side in the seventh.

Daniel Herrera was the lone T-Bird to finish with multiple hits, going 2-for-3.

NMJC started the event with a 4-0 loss to LSU-Eunice on Friday morning. Five errors in the game led to three of the four runs being unearned.

Fernando Fernandez-Beltran (0-1) picked up the loss, going five innings and giving up three runs (one earned) on two hits with four strikeouts and five walks.

The T-Birds had just four hits in the game with one extra-base knock - a double by Jacy Cave.

Later Friday NMJC fell to host San Jacinto 11-8 – losing a 7-0 lead. Much like the loss earlier in the day, defensive miscues led to several unearned runs as the T-Birds committed three errors that led to five unearned runs.

Robert Delgado (1-2) picked up the loss, going an inning and giving up seven runs (two earned) on five hits with two strikeouts.

Grieger went 2-for-3 with a run for NMJC, Austin Botello went 1-for-2 with an RBI while Luis Pintor went 1-for-3 with a double and RBI.

NMJC's final loss came in a 7-3 loss to Baton Rouge on Sunday.

Left-hander Colby Price (0-1) picked up the loss for NMJC, going three innings and giving up four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Pintor paced the T-Birds at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Vega also had multiple hits, going 2-for-4.

NMJC returns to action against Vernon College on Wednesday in Abilene, Texas.