Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
It took a team effort.
Down 0-2 in the four-game set to Otero Junior College, the New Mexico Military Institute Broncos regrouped and came out revitalized to avoid the sweep Sunday afternoon at NMMI Ballpark.
In Game 3, the offense erupted for the Broncos as they won, 16-4. NMMI tallied 11 hits while using an eight-run rally in the bottom of the third to come out on top.
With the game tied 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth during the series finale, Victor Jimenez scored on a wild pitch to win the game in walk-off fashion for the Broncos, 7-6.
"Our backs were against the wall being down 0-2 in a series at home," said NMMI head coach Chris Cook. "The goal is never to split a series at home.
"We did swing the bats well against their bullpen. We had some guys that did really well."
The Broncos (2-2) trailed 2-0 early on, but later rallied to take an 8-2 lead heading into the fourth inning.
Gavon Clemons hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth to spark a four-run rally to extend NMMI's lead to 12-4.
Jesh Leckey hit a two-RBI double in the big inning while Rudy Solis drove in a run with a single.
Solis later blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to end the game courtesy of the 10-run rule.
Leckey finished 4 for 4 in the first game with a single, three doubles and four RBIs while Solis went 3 for 4 with two singles, a home run and five RBIs.
Jorge Garcia went 4 1/3 innings in Game 3 allowing six hits with five strikeouts.
To begin Game 4, NMMI trailed 1-0 early before taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second after Leckey scored on a throwing error by the third baseman and Henry Paulino drove in a run on a groundout to first.
The Rattlers (2-2) regained the lead on a pair of RBI singles by Luke Baca and Juan Chaparro in the top of the third.
NMMI's Edwin Martinez then drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to even up the game at 3-3. The Broncos later took a 6-3 lead in the bottom of seventh.
Otero cut the deficit to one run in the top of the eighth after Arjun Huerta hit a two-RBI single. The Broncos worked out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the lead at 6-5.
Andres Quintana tied up the game for the Rattlers after scoring on a passed ball in the top of the ninth.
With a chance to win the game, the Broncos loaded up the bases and Jimenez came sprinting across the plate after the wild pitch to win the game.
Leckey finished 3 for 5 in the series finale with three singles and one run scored. The Broncos scattered 10 hits in Game 4.
Ty Villarreal threw 4 1/3 innings for Broncos with four strikeouts.
NMMI hosts North Central Texas College next weekend for a four-game series beginning at noon Saturday.
"It feels really good come back and win," Leckey said. "Overall, it's been a blast. Coach believed in me, the team believed in me. It's just been a great day.
"We just came together as a team and just started putting things together. That's the biggest thing."