NMMI Sports Press
The Bronco baseball team finished off their four-game Western Junior College Athletic Conference series versus New Mexico Junior College with a pair of losses on Saturday, dropping Game 1 by a score of 2-0 and Game 2, 13-7.
In the opener, NMMI's Gerry Lerma Jr. and NMJC's Carlos Ortiz battled back and forth in a scoreless pitcher's duel, but a late two-run homerun in the top of the 7th inning by the T-Birds gave visiting NMJC the win.
Carlos Ortiz was the winning pitcher for NMJC. He surrendered zero runs on six hits over seven innings, striking out nine.
Lerma Jr. took the loss for the Broncos. He lasted seven innings, allowing seven hits and two runs while striking out four and didn't surrender a walk.
The Broncos scattered six hits in the game. Angel Colon Aviles and Miguel Soto all collected multiple hits for the Institute.
Game 2 started off very different for the Broncos.
Colon began the bottom of the 1st with a single on hard hit ball to center field and the next batter, Miguel Soto, was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.
Bobby Galindo then connected on a pitch that cleared the Desert Sun sponsored scoreboard in right field to give NMMI a 3-0 lead heading into the top of the second.
The next inning, after again holding NMJC without a run, Colon doubled on a line drive to center scoring Estevan De La O and Palo Rodriguez – who both walked – making the score 5-0 at the end of the second inning.
After a scoreless third, the T-Birds responded with two runs on two hits in the top of the fourth bringing the score to 5-2.
NMMI immediately answered with two runs in the bottom half. Galindo singled, which scored Colon and Adam Abeyta hit an RBI double, scoring Galindo.
The Institute held that lead, 7-2, heading into the top of the fifth.
Unfortunately for the Broncos, the T-Birds bats came alive. NMJC scored 11 runs in the last four innings, including a seven-spot in the top of the seventh, allowing the T-Birds the victory.
Up next for NMMI is WJCAC opponent Howard College. This two-day series will be held at Howard College on the 13th and 14th of April. Start times for both days' doubleheaders are scheduled for 12 pm.