NMMI Sports Press

The Broncos salvaged a split Thursday in the first doubleheader of a four-game series with the visiting Odessa College Wranglers, dropping the first game 13-2 in five innings and then holding on for a 10-9 win in the nine-inning contest.

Sophomore starting pitcher Marc Rios took his first loss of the season, allowing eight runs off nine hits with two strikeouts and two walks over three-and-a-third innings.

"He's gotten squeezed with his time off for two consecutive weeks and he's been so good this season, so that's what I'm going to attribute as being the issue," said NMMI head coach Chris Cook. "He was a little erratic and made some mistakes over the heart of the plate."

Both of NMMI's Game 1 runs came in the bottom of the first, after the Wranglers opened the game with a four-spot.

Sophomore first baseman Owen Alsup blasted a Conor Myles pitch over the centerfield wall for the first Bronco score of the afternoon. Freshman infielder Daniel Lizarraga doubled to right, plating sophomore outfielder Willie Borquez, who was hit by pitch during his at bat.

The Broncos had other chances to score, especially early in the game, but Myles kept the Institute hitter off balance for five innings. To make matters worse, Borquez was injured on the HBP.

"In the first four innings we left runners in scoring position and only managed the two runs," Cook said. "It really hurts losing Borquez, who has been one of our best conference hitters, but we'll have to find a way to make up for his absence."

The Broncos trailed for much of the second game, giving up runs in the second through fifth innings before rallying for a five-run sixth to take a 10-8 lead.

Freshman closer Diego Jimenez pitched the final two innings, allowing a run in the eighth before slamming the door on the Wranglers in the ninth. The right hander struck out four of the 10 batters he faced.

"Win or lose, we were going to let Diego have it," said Cook. "He has legit swing-and-miss stuff…a plus fastball and a good slider. He's got a good arm and has room to get better at controlling the running game and things like that. If we can keep games close, he gives us a chance."

Three Broncos had multiple hits in the late game: Sophomore shortstop B.Y. Choi went 2-for-5 with two runs batted in while sophomore designated hitter Bernie Socarras and sophomore outfielder Fran Gross each went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

"We haven't really been ourselves offensively over the last three weeks, even though we've held on and won some games," said Cook. "I'm just waiting for that switch to flip for us to get back to where we were a few weeks ago. Hopefully getting back to a regular seven-day cycle will help."

The Broncos have two more with Odessa tomorrow starting at noon. Like today's games, the doubleheader will be streamed live on ESPN+.