Weatherford Knocks off NMJC, T-Birds Set to Play Odessa

Weatherford College rallied Sunday afternoon to stun the New Mexico Junior College Thunderbirds 8-5.

The Thunderbirds began the game with a strong start. Dylan Jasso scored on a fielder's choice to put NMJC on the board 1-0 in the top of the first inning. Jasso scored his second run of the day when touched the plate on another fielder's choice in the top of the third to give the T-Birds a 2-0 lead.

Max Swenson was dealing early for the Thunderbirds. The sophomore had back-to-back inning-ending strikeouts in the second and third innings.

DH Mark Henning hit an RBI singled to right to score Brent Iredale and extend the score to 3-0. First baseman Luis Gonzalez stepped up to the plate next and drove home Henning on a single to left. NMJC would enter the bottom of the fifth with a comfortable 4-0 lead.

Things began to unravel in the bottom of the fifth for the T-Birds. Thunderbird starting pitcher Max Swenson gave up a solo shot to begin the inning. NMC walked the next batter, but they were able to turn a double play to make it two outs with no one on base.

Swenson was yanked after giving up three straight singles that resulted in the second run of the game for the Coyotes. Josh Pearl came in relief of Swenson and walked the bases loaded. Weatherford's Robin Villeneuve came up to bat and smacked his 24th dinger of the year to give Weatherford their first lead of the game, 6-4, on a grand slam.

Paul Coppinger came in relief of Pearl in the bottom in the sixth and went three up three down in the inning. The story was different in the bottom of the seventh. Coppinger gave up two straight singles to begin the inning.

The right-hander struck out the next batter and then gave up a 2-run double to put the Coyotes ahead 8-4. Coppinger struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

NMJC did not throw in the towel. In the top of the eighth inning, the T-Birds loaded the bases and scored a run with one out on an infield single to third base by catcher Lorenzo Morresi.

This brought up the top of the order in Dylan Jasso and Brent Iredale with the T-Birds trailing 8-5. Unfortunately, both batters would strikeout leaving the bases loaded. The T-Birds would not be able to get any offense going in the ninth, ultimately dropping their first game at the Region V tournament 8-5.

Max Swenson went four and two-thirds allowing five hits and four earned runs on four strikeouts. Josh Pearl lasted just a third of an inning and gave up three walks and two earned runs. Paul Coppinger went the final three innings of the game allowing one earned run, while striking out four batters.

Third baseman Dylan Jasso was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Second baseman Aaron Lugo finished with two RBIs. Luis Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with an RBI. DH Mark Henning had an RBI and runs scored. 

The Thunderbirds are struggling offensively in the tournament batting 24-101 (.237) compared to their regular season average of .361.

The T-Birds fall to 45-13 on the season. NMJC will face Odessa College Monday, May 15 at 1 p.m. CDT for the right to play Weatherford College in the Region V Championship.

The winner of the 1 p.m. matchup plays Weatherford today at 5 p.m. CDT. If NMJC were to win both games the T-Birds would play in the Championship against Weatherford in a rematch at 1 p.m. CDT Tuesday, May 16.