T-Birds take two from Highlanders

March 2, 2019

The New Mexico Junior College baseball team pushed its winning streak to six straight Friday with a doubleheader sweep of McLennan Community College.

The New Mexico Junior College baseball team opened its doubleheader with McLennan College with a win Friday, breaking a tie with one run in the top of the ninth to beat the Highlander 4-3.

McLennan scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the first, but the Thunderbirds tied the game in the top of the third. NMJC went in front 2-1 in the top of the fifth only to see the Highlanders knot the game at 2-all in the bottom of the seventh. Both teams scored a run in the eight before NMJC won it in the ninth.

The T-Birds had nine hits in the game with two players, Adrian Torres and Zac Vooletich each collecting multiple hits. Torres was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI while Vooletich went 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Daniel Hernandez had one hit, a stolen base, and two RBI.

Brayan Garcia started the game on the mound and pitched 6.2 innings. He allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits and five walks while striking out six. Jairo Vasquez pitched the final 2.1 innings to get the win. Vasquez allowed on run on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts.

In the nightcap, NMJC blanked McLennan 3-0.

The T-Birds scored twice in the top of the fifth and once in the top of the sixth.

Carlos Contreras had two of the T-Birds six hits, one of which was a double, along with two RBI. Joab Gonzalez, Rody Barker, and Vooletich each scored one run. Barker also drove in a run.

Ty Stephenson pitched a complete game to earn the win and the shutout. He allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out seven.

With the win, NMJC improves to 8-3 on the season. The T-Birds will be back on the diamond today for a doubleheader at Weatherford College. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.