NMMI Sports Press

NMMI head baseball coach Chris Cook tallied career victory No. 300 Friday afternoon in El Paso, as his Broncos topped the Tejanos 9-5 backed by solid pitching performances from starter Julio Ramos and reliever Jason Maldonado.

Ramos tossed 107 pitches over six innings of work, allowing three earned runs off six hits with four walks and 10 strikeouts. Maldonado entered the game to start the seventh inning, allowing one run the rest of the way while fanning three and walking one.

NMMI wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as left fielder Bernie Socarras-Puig sent the second pitch of the ballgame over the left field wall to put the Broncos up 1-0. El Paso responded with small ball, working a lead-off walk then scoring on a ground out and sac-fly to tie it after one inning.

The Institute plated two runs in the top of the second, but the Tejanos tied the game again in the bottom of the third, benefitting from a HBP and a walk issued by Ramos. The Broncos took the lead for good in the sixth when first baseman Julian Payan drove in two runs on a hard grounder to right field with two outs. The Institute added four more runs in the seventh, making EPCC pay for a pair of infield errors and four walks.

Catcher Seojun Oh was the only Bronco with multiple hits in the contest, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Payan was 1-for-3 with three runs batted in and two walks.

The Broncos play two more in El Paso starting at 12 p.m. MDT tomorrow. The final home series against the Amarillo Badgers starts at noon next Friday and Saturday at the NMMI Ballpark. All home games are streamed live at KSVPtv.com.