Cave, Deimling clutch up for T-Birds in non-WJCAC game

HOBBS, N.M. — New Mexico Junior College's Jacy Cave – who is tied for fourth in the country in home runs (12), 26th in RBI (37) and 10th in slugging percentage (.833) – proved why he's one of the most dangerous hitters in the NJCAA to face when the game is on the line.

The sophomore ripped a bases-loaded RBI single to right in the bottom of the ninth to push NMJC to a 5-4 victory over Midland College on Wednesday in a non-Western Junior College Athletic Conference contest at Ray Birmingham Thunderbird Field.

"He's the guy right now," NMJC coach Josh Simpson said of Cave, a Piedra Vista grad. "Plus he's sandwiched between two darn good hitters as well. But to have that guy up with the game on the line, I'll take that every time."

The late-inning theatrics were set up thanks to another clutch hit from another New Mexico product for NMJC (23-11) in the bottom of the eighth – La Cueva grad Jeff Deimling.

Following a walk to Austin Botello with two outs in the eighth, the freshman Deimling lined a two-run, opposite-field home run to right field to tie the game at 4-4.

Midland (17-13) had a runner on second with one out in the top of the ninth when the T-Birds went to closer Brett Worthen.

The La Cueva grad, who leads the country in saves with 11, struck out the next two hitters to keep the game tied and eventually pick up the win. Worthen is now 2-1 with a 1.65 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 16.1 innings of work.

NMJC opened its half of the ninth by getting its first three runners on base. Pinch-hitter JP Rousseau was hit with the first pitch of the inning (Kody Russell entered to pinch run) and Luis Pintor and Branden Grieger both followed trying to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but instead bunted for base hits to load the bases with no outs.

After a T-Bird strikeout, Cave came up and ripped the second pitch he saw to right field for the game winner.

It capped a 2-for-3 day for Cave, who added a run and stolen base. Pintor and Grieger also had two hits apiece for the T-Birds.

NMJC got a strong start on the mound from sophomore Ian Doughty. The Piedra Vista grad went four innings and gave up no runs on three hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

"That was a huge start for him," Simpson said. "We need that guy. We're going to need him down the stretch. He's going to help us win games. That was encouraging to see."

Ramon Salazar got the loss for Midland, going one inning and giving up three runs on three hits with a strikeout and a walk.

Cody Bower led Midland at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run, double and two RBI.

NMJC returns to WJCAC play Friday when it hosts Howard College for a doubleheader starting at noon.