NMMI Sports Press

The Bronco Baseball team put on an offensive clinic Saturday at NMMI Ballpark, scoring a total of 28 runs in their doubleheader victory over the visiting Otero College Rattlers. The Broncos took Game 1 (seven innings) 16-10 and then wrapped up the second game (nine innings) early with a 12-2 mercy-rule win in six innings.

"The offense stepped up," said Bronco head coach Chris Cook. "We were a little quiet early, in both games. But that core group of four or five guys had good at bats all day. It was similar to last week in that once we got into their bullpen, we were able to do some damage."

Across both games, sophomore second baseman Rhett Stokes went 6-for-9 with with two doubles, four runs batted in, four runs scored and hit a solo bomb to start the bottom of the fifth inning in the second game, triggering a seven-run inning that blew the contest wide open.

Sophomore outfielder Willie Borquez had five hits in six at bats with two doubles, four RBIs, four runs scored and three walks. Sophomore shortstop B.Y. Choi went 4-for-6 with a triple, four RBIs, three runs scored, three walks and a three-run homer, which came in the bottom of the fifth in Game 1.

The RBI king for the day was Bernie Socarras-Puig with six. The freshman infielder went 3-for-6 with a triple, three runs scored, two walks and a home run. Freshman infielder Jun Hyuk Kwon drove in five with a 3-for-5 performance that included a double, two runs scored, a walk and a homer.

Last week's opening game winner Marc Rios had a rough outing on Saturday, allowing six runs on seven hits in three innings of work. Freshman righty Julio Ramos pitched the final four innings and did allow four runs, but also struck out nine while walking two.

"Marc was just off today. I think maybe he was just too amped up, but was just out of the zone and got his pitch count elevated," said Cook. "But Ramos came in, was a little shaky at first, but he settled in, had a couple real good innings and pounded the strike zone."

In the second game, sophomore right hander Jackson Peters got the start, and while he wasn't quite as sharp as he was last week with a no-hitter through five innings, he allowed just two runs on three hits over five innings with three Ks and three walks.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Dong Woon Yuk allowed a hit and struck out one in his single innings of work before the Bronco offense ended the game early.

"Peters did basically the same as he did last week," Cook said. "Got us to the fifth, and then Yuk came in and did a great job."

The Broncos play two more with the Rattlers tomorrow starting at noon.