NMMI Sports Press
The Broncos dropped the first two games of a four-game home series with the Midland Chaparrals Friday, falling behind early in the noon game before taking the second contest into extra innings before the Chaps exploded for eight runs in the 11th inning.
GAME 1 – Midland 17, NMMI 3
The Chaps feasted on Bronco pitching in the noon game, racking up 17 runs off 14 hits to end the game by mercy rule in the fifth inning.
After a seven-run top of the fourth, NMMI finally strung together some good at bats and scored three runs, but Midland followed up with another big frame to put the contest out of reach.
The Broncos had three of their five hits in the fourth inning and only first baseman Julian Payan managed multiple hits, going 2-for-2 with two runs batted in. Centerfielder Adonis Bernal had the Institute's only other RBI, going 1-for-2 with a run scored.
Leftfielder Bernie Socarras-Puig worked the only walk for the Broncos, which preceded back-to-back scoring singles.
Starting pitcher Paul Ruiz allowed seven runs off nine hits over 3.2 innings, with three strikeouts and a walk. Luis Patron and Julian Sullivan pitched in relief, combining for six Ks and nine BBs.
GAME 2 – Midland 13, NMMI 7
The second game was a pitchers' duel as NMMI's Julio Ramos and Midland's Holt Gibson were both dealing their best stuff into the sixth inning.
Ramos allowed three runs, two earned, over six full innings of work. The sophomore from Arizona gave up six hits, issued two walks and fanned 12 Chaps.
NMMI wasn't able to hang any runs on Gibson until the fifth inning when Socarras-Puig, Bernal and Payan singled in order to load the bases for catcher Benicio Diaz, who grounded into a fielder's choice to plate Socarras-Puig.
On the same play, Bernal crossed home plate on an error by the Midland shortstop to give the Institute a 2-1 lead. In the top of the sixth, Ramos recorded his final three Ks, but not before the Chaps hit a two-out single, followed by a double to tie the game. The Chaps took back the lead when Kyle Lewis stole third and then scampered home when Diaz' throw to third was off line.
"It was just a poor decision to throw," said NMMI head coach Chris Cook. "It got away from us, the runner scored and then the batter struck out. So if we don't try that throw or make an accurate throw, theoretically we win in nine innings."
NMMI tied the game twice more — in the bottom of the eighth and again in the 10th — both off RBI singles from third baseman Daniel Lizarraga.
But the Chaps batted around in the top of the 11th and capped it off with a grand slam from Trace Holcomb. Bernal hit a solo shot over the left field fence and the Broncos loaded the bases in the final inning, with second baseman Hee-Ryun Han driving in a run.
Han went 3-for-6 with the RBI and a run scored. Four other Broncos had two hits apiece, with Bernal and Junho Son each scoring two runs.
Yuki Shigeyasu tossed four innings, allowing two runs off six hits with three Ks.
"That's a tough pitching staff," Cook said. "I think every righty they put out there today was 90-plus, so a good group of arms we got to see today. But we'll come back out tomorrow and try to salvage a split."
The losses drop the Broncos to 16-13 overall and an even 5-5 in conference play. Due to expected high winds tomorrow afternoon, Saturday's doubleheader will begin an hour early at 11 a.m.