NMJC splits doubleheader
Article Written by: Jason Farmer NEWS-SUN
Photo Taken by: Tony Baker NMTXsports.com
The New Mexico Junior College baseball team split its doubleheader with Trinidad State Saturday, losing the first gaem 12-10 before winning the second game 8-5.
In the second game, NMJC trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom of the first. On the fourth pitch Larry Leitha saw as the Thunderbirds leadoff hitter, Leitha launched a home run to tie the game. In the bootom of the second with the score still tied 1-1, Lietha came to the plate with two runners on and crushed the second pitch he saw for a three-run homer, giving NMJC a 4-1 lead.
"He had a decent weekend," NMJC coach Jimmy Durham said. "What is really crazy,is he is not even close to being where he need to be offensively, and he would be the first to tell you that."
The T-Birds would lead the rest of the way. NMJC sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five times in the second. The T-Birds added two more runs in the fifth.
Dylan Bein pitched 5.1 innings and got the win for NMJC. Bein struck out seve, walked one, and hit one while scattering seven hits. He was charged with three runs.
At one point, Bein retired 10 straight batter. He struck out the side in the top of the fourth,then labored through the next two innings.
"He is a strike thrower, he really is," Durham said. "When he does get behind continuously on every hitter, It is a pretty good sign that it is getting close to getting him."
Braedon Holub came in with the bases loaded and one out. The sophomore struck out the first batter he faced and then got a groundout to get out of the jam.
While Leitha dominated at the plate, the outfielder came into close out the game. With one out in the seventh and NMJC leading 8-4, Durham summoned Leitha to the mound. Leitha got the first hitter to ground into a fielders choice, scoring a run. After allowing a single, Leitha got the final out on a ground ball to first.
"I feel real confident in him throwing strikes," Durham said. "You know what you are going to get every time he comes in. You are going to get a very competitive person who is going to will it over the plate and going to will outs, as much as he is talented. He is just a strike thrower and you know what you are going to get.
The T-Birds took three of the four games from Trinidad State during the weekend series. With the win, NMJC improves to 4-5 on the season. The T-Birds will be back on the diamond Friday and Saturday for a pair of doubleheaders at Navarro College.