The WJCAC Champions Close the Regular Season in Midland, Head to Region V Tournament in Weatherford

The Thunderbirds came up short 5-3 on the road Saturday afternoon against Midland College in Game 3 of their four-game series with the Chaps.

NMJC led the game 2-1 after the top of the fourth inning, but they gave up three runs in the bottom half of the inning to trail 4-2 through four innings of play. 

The T-Birds added a run in the fifth, but the Chaps countered with another run of their own in the sixth to make the score 5-3 in favor of Midland.

NMJC had a chance to extend the game in the seventh with two runners on base. However, catcher Luis Gonzalez grounded into a game-ending double play to end the threat.

Isaiah Arteaga started on the mound for the T-Birds and gave up four earned runs. The freshman recorded his first loss of the year after pitching three and two-thirds innings Saturday afternoon.

Left fielder Kolton Koonce was the most productive hitter for the T-Birds going 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Designated hitter Mark Henning went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Third baseman Dylan Jasso finished the day 1-for-4 with a run scored.

The Thunderbirds fall to 42-12 (29-6) on the year.  

Game 4

The T-Birds won the final game of the regular season 15-14 in an extra-inning back-and-forth affair against Midland College.

The game featured a barrage of runs with at least one run scored in every inning except for the ninth. The Thunderbirds were in control 14-9 following the top of the eighth inning.

The Chaps were not done just yet as they plated five runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score at 14. No runs came across in the ninth, which led to extra innings for the first time this series.

NMJC first baseman Luis Gonzalez hit a line drive single to center to score the eventual winning run in shortstop Brent Iredale. Midland went three up three down on offense in the bottom half of the inning to end the game in the 10th 15-14.  

Third baseman Dylan Jasso was 2-for-3 with three walks, a double, and three runs scored. Luis Gonzalez was 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored. Erick Ballenilla was 2-for-5 with a solo homer in the top of the third. The left fielder also added two runs in the win.

Catcher Lorenzo Morresi hit a 2-run homer in the sixth inning. Right fielder Rafael Gross hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. Designated hitter Jesse Herrera went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Manuel Sandoval earned his second win of the season after allowing zero hits in a scoreless two and two-thirds innings of work.

The WJCAC champions improve to 43-12 (30-6) and will play next in Weatherford, Texas against Cisco College in the Region V tournament at Roger Williams Ballpark on Friday, May 12 at 4 p.m. CDT.

NMJC baseball head coach Michael Robbins said he likes where his team is trending as they enter postseason play.

"In a tournament like this, you have to get good starting pitching and play solid defense," Robbins said. "You'll be facing everyone's best arms so you can't expect to outhit everybody. We need to play sound baseball and control the things we're capable of controlling."