Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
After splitting the series opener, the New Mexico Military Institute Bronco baseball team was hoping to continue the momentum into Sunday after winning Game 2 with a walk-off.
Trinidad State pitcher Rolando DeLaCruz had a no-hitter through three innings as the Trojans came away with the 4-2 victory in nine innings at NMMI Ballpark.
The Trojans pushed across the first run in the top of the first after a single by Carlos Oquita.
DeLaCruz was perfect until he walked Rhett Stokes and Guillermo Borquez in the bottom of the fourth. B.Y. Choi hit a single to right to advance a runner to third but NMMI was unable to push across a run.
After three scoreless innings, Trinidad State got a run in after a wild pitch that plated home Cesar Saavedra in the fifth.
The Trojans tacked on one more run in the sixth with an RBI single by Saavedra.
Heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Broncos were held to one hit until Adrian Rubio hustled into second base for a double with one out.
Ryan Flake grounded out to allow Rubio to get to third which set up the RBI-double by Armando Ramirez Jr. to cut the deficit to two runs.
Trinidad State added on one more run in the top of the eighth with an RBI-single by Erick Ordonez.
With runners at first and third in the bottom of the ninth, NMMI was trying to pull off some late-inning heroics with one out.
Unfortunately, the Trojans got two quick outs with a strikeout and ground out to end the ballgame.
The Broncos were out hit 12-5.
Rubio finished 2 for 4 with the single and double while Flake and Choi each went 1 for 4.
Ramirez went 1 for 2.
NMMI pitcher Jorge Garcia allowed five hits and struck out four batters in 4 1/3 innings. The bullpen allowed seven hits and tallied three strikeouts.
The Trojan pitching staff fanned 12 batters. DeLaCruz tallied seven strikeouts in five innings.
Saavedra went 3 for 5 with three singles and an RBI while Elliott Herrmann also hit three singles to go 3 for 5.
>> UP NEXT: NMMI is scheduled to host Otero College for a four-game series beginning Saturday, Feb. 5. First pitch is at noon.
Game 3
TRINIDAD STATE 4, NMMI 2 (9)
TRINIDAD…….100011010 — 4 12 2
NMMI…….…….000000101 — 2 5 2
Rolando DeLaCruz, George Hogan III (6), Dominic Teoli (8). Jorge Garcia, Jackson Peters (5), Jose Cabanillas Jr. (6), Leandro Tamaki (9). W — DeLaCruz. L — Garcia. 2B — NMMI: Ryan Flake, Adrian Rubio, Armando Ramirez Jr. 3B — None. HR — None.
Records — Trinidad State (2-1); NMMI (1-2).