New Mexico Military Institute opened the 2025 season with a 15-2 win over Northeastern JC in seven innings Friday afternoon at the NMMI Ballpark. Scoring 15 runs - the most in an opening day in since 2012, the Broncos start the year 1-0 with three more games remaining in the series throughout the weekend. With the loss, Northeastern dips to 0-4.
Making his first appearance on the mound of the season for the Broncos, Jiyeong Park opened up the game with full command. After leaving a runner stranded in the first with a hit, Park followed up his first scoreless inning with a two-strikeout second inning to keep the Plainsmen scoreless.
The NMMI offense wasted no time getting to work as they bats started swinging in the second frame. After back-to-back singles by Sang Woon Jeon and Yahir Fonseca Ortiz, Misael Maldonado Baez gave the Broncos their first lead of 2025 with an RBI single to score Woon Jeon. With two outs, Jose Rodriguez Mestre drove in two runs with an RBI single but ended the inning after being caught trying to get to second base to give the Broncos a 3-0 advantage.
In the top half of the third, Park matched his second inning as he recorded two additional strikeouts. Continuing their early momentum, the Broncos used the home half to grow their lead with the help of a triple by Seojun Oh who scored with the help of a ball to make it 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Seung Min Shin got the scoring party started as he homered to right field off the second pitch of the at-bat. After Baez singled, Ericson Kim knocked one out the park to left field, putting NMMI ahead 7-0.
Halfway through the contest, Northeastern was able to score their first run after Harrison Good crossed the plate with the help of an RBI double by Hudson Hoy to put the Plainsmen on the board.
Starting off the bottom half fifth-inning with a walk, NMMI's offense exploded with seven runs being scored in the frame. First, Woon Jeon drove in a runner with an RBI single. Three pitches later, Yahir Fonseca Ortiz sent one into orbit as he made it a 10-1 ballgame with a 2-RBI homer. After a pair of walks, the scoring continued as the Broncos scored with the help of a Balk.
With two runners on, Joek Rivera Colon gave the Broncos cushion as he cleared the basses with a line drive over the left field wall. After five innings of action the Broncos held a 14-1 advantage.
In the away half of the sixth inning, the Plainsmen were able to record another run with the help of an error by the NMMI defense. In the bottom half, Fonseca Ortiz added to his day with another hit, this time a double as he stood at second base. A batter later, Maldonado Baez helped Ortiz cross home plate with as the Northeastern defense aided the scoring with an error by the shortstop.
"Yeah we came out swinging a bit … I know we have the ability and talent offensively we don't show a lot of power throughout the week in practice," a pleased Head Coach Chris Cook said after a four-homer display by his offense. "Defensively we played flawless other than a couple mistakes and Park and Alsup do what they've been doing since August: pound the strike zone and force hitters to beat them," Cook said.
Coming into pitch for NMMI with two outs in the fourth inning, Ryan Alsup allowed zero earned runs in 2.1 innings of work to hold the Plainsmen run less in the top half of the seventh inning, which put the run-rule into effect on opening day.
Joek Rivera Colon finished 1-for-3 to lead NMMI with three RBIs on the afternoon. Yahir Fonseca Ortiz hit 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, including a homer in the process. In 4.2 innings, Jiyeong Park allowed just one run while retiring five batters. Ericson Kim finished the game 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs, both coming off his first homer of the season.
The Broncos return to action tomorrow Saturday, Feb. 1, as they host Northeastern for a doubleheader with first pitch of game one scheduled for noon.