Benton's walk-off lifts Tbirds to split

Hobbs, NEW MEXICO

GAME 1

A walk-off three-run home run fromTravion Benton brought home the winning run for NMJC Thunderbirds in a 12-9 victory over conference leading Midland College in 10 innings at Ray Birmingham Field on Friday.

Benton racked up three RBIs on two hits for the Thunderbirds. He singled in the seventh inning and homered in the tenth inning which sealed the victory.

The two teams combined for 21 runs and 28 hits, including 13 extra base hits. Relief pitchers got their fill of innings during the game, with the opposing managers using nine pitchers in total.

Eddie Varela got it done on the bump on the way to a win. He pitched two-thirds shutout innings. He struck out none, walked none and surrendered no hits.

Home runs for NMJC Thunderbirds came when Jimmy Cubillos, Larry Leith and Jesse Becton each  homered in the second inning, Zac Sanders homered in the fifth inning, and Benton delivered the win with his tenth inning blast.

Jesse Borden was the game's losing pitcher. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings, walked none, struck out two, and allowed four runs.

Midland pushed across one run in both the fourth inning and the tenth. In the fourth, Midland scored on a solo home run by Eric Senior.

The Thunderbirds scored four runs of its own in the tenth. NMJC Thunderbirds scored on a sacrifice fly by Cubillos and a three-run home run by Benton.

GAME 2

Jeff Deimling did all he could to give NMJC Thunderbirds a boost, but it wasn't enough to get past Midland, as the Thunderbirds lost 9-5 in seven innings.

Deimling racked up two RBIs on two hits. He doubled in the first inning and singled in the third inning.

Brady Mocham got the win for Midland despite allowing five runs over six innings. He struck out five, walked three and surrendered eight hits.

Roberto Delgado took the loss for the Thunderbirds . He allowed six runs in five innings, walked five and struck out three.

In the top of the first, Midland grabbed the early lead, 4-0. Beam kicked things off for Midland with a three-run home run. The scoreboard lit up again for Midland when Rattai and Gurtola scored on a three-run home run by Beam.

NMJC Thunderbirds quickly matched Midland's strong inning with a four-run inning of its own in the first. NMJC Thunderbirds scored on a two-run double by Deimling , an RBI single by Zac Sanders, and an RBI single by Daniel Herrera.

Midland didn't relinquish the lead after scoring one run in the fourth inning when it scored on an RBI single by Nolan Rattai.

Midland increased its lead with three runs in the seventh. Connor Beck kicked things off with a solo blast. That was followed up by Braden Heyward's double, plating Chad Curtis.

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