The Bronco Baseball team split their Sunday doubleheader against the visiting Western Nebraska Cougars, ending the first game with a 10-0 win after six innings and dropping the second 11-8. NMMI took the weekend series 3-1.
Sophomore left hander Demitrius DiMatteo got the start in Game 3, allowing no runs on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks over five innings.
"DiMatteo's pitch count got high, but he threw a lot of strikes and his misses were pretty good," said NMMI head coach Chris Cook. "A lot of full counts that kind of build it up, but overall he threw really well."
The Bronco offense had a cold start, but got things rolling in the third inning and scored multiple runs in each inning thereafter.
Freshman designated hitter Bernie Socorras-Puig and sophomore right fielder Edrien Martinez each went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two batted in. Sophomore first baseman Owen Alsup was 1-for-3 which included a three-run blast.
The second game featured several tied and lead changes until the Cougars finally took control for good in the top of the sixth. The Broncos scored a run in the bottoms of the sixth and seventh innings, but it wasn't enough as WNCC plated three more on their side of the seventh and eighth.
Former NMMI high school pitcher Luis Patron started Game 4, allowing three runs (one earned) off four hits with five Ks and three walks over three innings. The last six innings were split among four pitchers, who combined allowed eight runs off eight hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
Bronco leadoff hitter Rhett Stokes made up for an uncharacteristically quiet Game 3 by going 4-for-5 with four runs scored and two batted in. The sophomore second baseman was once again a hit shy from hitting for the cycle.
Sophomore shortstop B.Y. Choi went 3-for-5 with three RBIs including a triple off the wall in right field.
The Broncos had several miscues defensively and on the base paths, issues Cook thinks might be easier driven home after a loss.
"Of course you never want to lose, but I think it's gonna help me," he said. "I thought we were competing pretty well at the end of the game, but we've got to take advantage of things early in the game and void being in those situations against their good relief pitchers. I thought all their relief guys did a good job against us."
After only scoring two runs in two games in their first competitive action of the young season, Cook told his squad that today could be very different.
"We talked about that pregame… yesterday was basically their first day out and they could be much better second day, and they were. Their coach does a good job."
The Broncos (11-1) stay at home for another Saturday doubleheader next week starting at 12 p.m. MST against the Wayland Baptist Pioneers.