T-Birds struggles continue

The New Mexico Junior College baseball team lost again Saturday, falling to Panola Junior College 8-7.

The Thunderbirds scored first, plating a run in the bottom of the first, but Panola knotted the game at 1-1 in the top of the seconds. The Ponies then took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth. NMJC got one run back in the bottom of the fifth, cutting its deificit to 3-2 before taking a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Panola retook the lead in the top of the eighth with five runs. The T-Birds got two back in the bottom of the ninth, but that was it.

The T-Birds banged out 10 hits in the game, four going for extra bases.

Carlos Contreras and Ben Malgeri each homered while Angel Andrades and Adrian Torres each had a double.

Pablo Suarez started the game and pitched the first 7.1 innings. He allowed five runs, three earned, on six hits and three walks while striking out 10. Angel Hernandez faced two batters and did not retire either one. He walked one and allowed a hit to the other. Both runners came around to score, leaving Hernandez on the hook for the loss.

With the loss, NMJC falls to 3-10 on the season. Next up for the T-Birds is a road game at Ranger College on Friday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.