Dickerson leads Thunderbirds’ rally
Jake Dickerson had a big day for the New Mexico Junior College baseball team Friday night. The sophomore outfielder had three hits, scored three runs, and drove in four while falling a single shy of hitting for the cycle as NMJC beat Frank Phillips College 12-11 in the first game of a doubleheader. Two of his hits and all four RBI came in the fifth inning when NMJC scored 10 runs.
The T-Birds then beat the Plainsmen 8-7 in the nightcap to sweep the doubleheader. NMJC improves to 29-11 overall and 16-6 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference while Frank
Phillips College falls to 13-27 and 8-14. NMJC and Frank Phillips College will close out the four game series with another doubleheader today at noon.
Dickerson's biggest hit was a three-run homer in the fifth inning, breaking a 9-9 tie and giving the Thunderbirds their first lead of the game. Earlier in the inning, Dickerson had an RBI triple to get the T-Birds' scoring started while his big fly capped the scoring. NMJC started the fifth trailing 9-2 and went into the bottom of the frame leading 12-9.
The T-Birds collected 12 hits and every batter in the T-Birds' lineup reached base safely. Of the nine batters, only two did not get a hit, however Rody Barker walked twice and Ryan Rijo drew three free passes.
Anthony Montoya started the game and lasted only 3.1 innings. He allowed eight runs on seven hits and three walks. Montoya served up one homer and struck out two. Brent Pronger got the final two outs of the fourth inning to earn the win, despite allowing two runs. Cade Acrey pitched the final three innings, allowing on one hit to get the save.
In the second game, NMJC never trailed on the way to an 8-7 win.
The T-Birds scored four times in the first and once in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead. Frank Phillips got one back in the bottom of the second and two in the third, cutting NMJC's lead to 5-3. The Plainsmen inched closer in the sixth with another run, but the T-Birds struck back with two in the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the eighth, Frank Phillips scored three times to tie the game at 7-7. The T-Birds scored the game winner in the top of the ninth.
New Mexico Junior College collected 10 more hits in the nightcap. Rijo was 3-for-5 with two homers and three RBI. Soterio Ramirez was 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI while Dickerson was 2-for-3 with a triple and a run scored.
Mark Barillas started the game and pitched the first 7.1 innings. He allowed six runs on three hits and four walks while striking out 10. William Tucker blew the save but picked up the win. Tucker allowed an unearned run on one hit while punching out three.