NMJC (BSB) Extends Streak to 11 Games

The No. 20 T-Birds grinded out two wins Saturday afternoon sweeping the Conquistadors in four games and extending their win streak to 11 games on Feb. 28.

Game 3

The T-Birds came from behind in the bottom of the seventh inning to score five runs and walk it off 10-9 against Dodge City CC in Game 3.

NMJC did not have the offensive prowess in the first five innings of Game 3. Dodge City scored nine runs to the T-Birds three. Marvin Hill narrowed the gap with a 2-run double in the sixth to make it 9-5.

Mekhi Brewer's RBI single in the seventh scored two runs and made the score 9-7 with two outs. Hill's heroics were on display again when he hit a game-tying 2-run homer in the next at bat. Sammy Morales popped up to shallow left field and the Conqs mishandled the play causing Morales to reach second base. Cooper Popejoy pinch hit and came through with a walk-off double down the right field line to end the game.

The T-Birds rallied back from down six runs in the game with five coming across in the seventh. 

First baseman Jesus Mejias was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. DH Mekhi Brewer went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Marvin Hill hit the only home run of Game 3 going 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

Starting pitcher Ricardo Rojas threw four innings allowing two earned on seven hits. Jace Sanchez-Reynolds came in relief and pitched three innings allowing one earned run on two hits.

NMJC ended Game 3 with 14 hits and four errors.

Game 4 

The final game of the series against Dodge City was a barnburner with NMJC holding on 16-13 in the only game of the series to go nine innings.

The Thunderbird trailed 9-5 headed into the bottom of the sixth inning. The T-Bird loaded the bases via a HBP, a walk, and a HBP in the first three batters of the inning. Peyton Pierce drew a walk to make the score 9-6 DCCC. Then, Talan Barraza struck out in the next at bat. Roman Trinidad came to the plate  with the bases still loaded and delivered with a grand slam into right field to push the Thunderbirds ahead 10-9 for the first time all game. Casen Savage drove in another run in the sixth with a double to right as the T-Birds held an 11-9 lead at the end of six.

The Conqs added a run in the top of the seventh. The T-Birds promptly loaded the bases in the bottom. A balk by the Conqs scored a run and then Javier Diaz singled to center scoring two more runs to make the score 14-10 T-Birds headed into the eighth.

Dodge City was not done fighting and scored three runs in the top of the eight to pull within one run, 14-13. The T-Birds got after it in the bottom of the eighth with a double-double-single-single start which made the score 16-13 after eight.

The Conqs had a chance to tie the game on a homer if Jordi Guerrero, who had hit three homers this series, came through. T-Bird reliever Dyllan Thiebaud got Guerrero to groundout to end the game and preserve the series sweep.    

Right fielder Roman Trinidad finished 3-for-5 with two home runs, three runs scored, and five RBIs. Shortstop Talan Barraza also hit two home runs and had three runs scored.

First baseman Mekhi Brewer went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Second baseman Javier Diaz was 2 for-5 with two RBIs.  Sammy Morales batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.

Paul Medina started for NMJC going 2.1 innings allowing five earned runs on six hits. Hersy Felix received his second win of the season going two innings, striking out four but walking five batters. Dyllan Thiebaud picked up his third save of the year allowing two hits and no runs in 1.2 innings of work.   

NMJC ended Game 4 with 16 hits and two errors.

The Thunderbirds move to 13-5 on the year and will play Howard College in Big Spring, Texas Friday, March 6 in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. MST. The T-Birds will host Howard College in Hobbs, NM Saturday, March 7 in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. MST.