Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
The unmistakable sounds of metal bats and gloves popping has returned.
On Saturday afternoon, the New Mexico Military Institute Bronco baseball team hosted the Trinidad State Trojans for a doubleheader at NMMI Ballpark.
In Game 1, the Trojans held the Broncos to one hit to edge out a 3-1 win victory in seven innings.
NMMI had to grind it out in Game 2.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth and runners at second and third, Justin Romero hit a lofty single into centerfield to help the Broncos win in walk-off fashion, 2-1, to split the series.
"I was happy with how we pitched. Megumi (Fukuda's) s command was a little off. Just one good swing on their part," said NMMI head coach Chris Cook. "Game 2 … (Drew) Price threw well. (Adrian) Rubio was really good to come in relief.
"Offensively, I thought we were better in Game 2. In tight games like that, with young guys, we got to find a way to do some other things."
Trinidad State's Isaac Gallegos struck out nine batters in 5 1/3 innings of one-hit work while he walked only two batters and allowed one earned run.
The Trojans took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Elliott Herrmann hit a two-run home run to left field.
Cesar Saavedra increased Trinidad's lead to 3-0 when he drove in a run with a bunt single in the fifth.
Ryan Flake brought in the lone run for NMMI in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI ground out.
NMMI starter Megumi Fukuda tallied six strikeouts in four innings while he allowed three earned runs on five hits.
Marc Rios allowed one hit while fanning one batter in three innings of relief.
Ross Stokes finished 1 for 2 with a single for the Broncos.
In the second game, the Trojans dealt the first run off a sacrifice fly by Roy Jennings in the top of the first.
Guillermo Borquez tied up the game for NMMI with an RBI-single in the bottom of the third.
The Broncos had a chance to end the game on a walk-off in the bottom of the seventh when B.Y. Choi hit a line drive that was snagged by the Trojans second baseman Kenneth Melendez.
NMMI starter Drew Price pitched a solid four innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four batters.
Adrian Rubio notched the win after fanning six batters and allowing three hits in four innings of relief.
The Broncos had seven hits. Julian Lopez finished 2 for 4 with a pair of singles while Borquez went 1 for 4.
Ryan Flake tallied a double to go 1 for 4 while Romero went 1 for 2 with an RBI.
"I'm expecting the guys to come out tomorrow ready to compete," said Cook. "Trinidad's shorthanded a little bit but they're still a capable team. So, we'll have our work cut out for us.
"Hopefully we'll come out a little looser and some of our new guys will feel a little more comfortable at the plate."
>> UP NEXT: NMMI closes out the three-game series against Trinidad State with a single, nine-inning game at 12 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30.
Game 1
TRINIDAD STATE 3, NMMI 1 (7)
TRINIDAD……0200100 — 3 6 0
NMMI…………0000010 — 1 1 1
Isaac Gallegos, Dominic Teoli (5). Megumi Fukuda, Marc Rios (5). W — Gallegos. L — Fukuda. 2B — Trinidad State: Kenneth Melendez (2). 3B — None. HR — Trinidad State: Elliott Herrmann.
Game 2
NMMI 2, TRINIDAD STATE 1 (8)
TRINIDAD…….100000000 — 1 4 1
NMMI…….…….00100001 — 2 7 0
Carlos Solano, Michael Allsup (5), Josh Gerhardt (6). Drew Price, Adrian Rubio (5). W — Rubio. L — Gerhardt. 2B — NMMI: Ryan Flake. 3B — None. HR — None.
Records — Trinidad State (1-1); NMMI (1-1).