NMMI Sports Press
The Broncos finished off a four-game sweep over the visiting Luna Community College Roughriders with a strong defensive effort and late surges of offense Sunday to move to 6-1 on the young 2024 season.
"We pitched well enough today. Luna battled and got a lot of hits, just not a ton of damage and we did a better job of capitalizing on some mistakes," said NMMI head coach Chris Cook. "There's still a lot of things we're going to have to do better as we get closer to conference. But we found a way. I know the guys are tired and we'll work to get better over a four-game series."
Luna scored a pair of runs in the top of the first off starting pitcher Jason Maldonado, but the Broncos responded in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back triples by Hee-Ryun Han and Junhyuk Kwon to put the Institute on the scoreboard.
Later in the inning, Adonis Bernal doubled Kwon home and then advanced to third on a passed ball. Daniel Lizarraga lined a single to right to bring Bernal home and make it 3-2 in favor of the Broncos.
The Roughriders tied the game in the next inning and the score would remain 3-3 until the final frame. Maldonado pitched three innings, allowing three runs off seven hits with no walks and a strikeout.
Ovier Alvidrez entered in the fourth inning and tossed four shutout innings, giving up two hits, walking four and fanning six.
In the bottom of the seventh and final inning, Han led off with a single and advanced to second on an error by the first baseman.
After intentionally walking Kwon, Bernal chopped the first pitch he saw to the shortstop, who tried to cradle the ball with both hands and fumbled, allowing Han to trot home for the walk-off victory.
Han and Kwon each went 2-for-3 with a walk and Bernal was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.
Former Colt Baseball state champion Luis Patron got the start in Game 4, shutting the Roughriders down for five innings, allowing four hits and striking out five. Dong Woon Yuk pitched the final two innings, allowing one run off two hits with three Ks.
The Broncos scattered four runs across the first five innings before putting up a five-spot in the sixth to put the game away. Catcher Benecio Diaz, right fielder Frank Garcia and shortstop Kwon each had two hits and a walk and Bernal drove in three runs.
Despite the cold and windy weather, each team had small, but dedicated crowds on hand throughout the weekend.
Cook said he hopes for more favorable weather and an even better crowd when the Broncos host the Western Nebraska Cougars for another Sat-Sun four gamer next week starting at noon both days.