NMJC (BB) Drops Game 3 to Trojans
Seminole State scored four runs in the ninth to defeat NMJC 10-8 in the final game of the three-game series.
The T-Birds struck first on Friday morning.
Sophomore Lachlan Maude led off the scoring for the Thunderbirds for the second time in three games. Maude hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second to put NMJC in front 1-0.
The Trojans tied the score in the fourth at 1-1 after a groundout that NMJC turned into a 4-6-3 double play. The Thunderbirds scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth via a passed ball, an RBI single by Travis Vlasek, a 2-run homer by Casen Savage, and a double by Callum Donelly that scored two runs. NMJC ended the sixth up 7-1.
Unfortunately, the Trojans punched right back, scoring five runs in the seventh to make their deficit 7-6. Julius Ramirez hit an RBI single in the eighth to add an insurance run and put the T-Birds in front 8-6.
NMJC fell apart in the ninth inning allowing an RBI single, a run off an error, a run walked in, and another run via an error. The Trojans scored four runs in the ninth to grab a 10-8 lead.
The T-Birds had a runner on in the ninth, but a double play and a groundout ended the game in favor of Seminole.
Shortstop Talan Barraza was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a double. Second baseman Jorge De Los Santos batted 2-for-5.
Right fielder Callum Donnelly was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a double. Left fielder Travis Vlasek went 2-for-5 with a solo homer.
Third baseman Jesus Mejias went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Center fielder Casen Savage hit his second 2-run homer of the series on Friday.
Starting pitcher Donovan Becerra went four innings allowing two hits and an earned run. Luis Urias struggled on the mound earning the loss after allowing seven runs in two innings of work.
Justin Nicks came in relief and got the T-Birds out of a bases loaded jam pitching a scoreless inning in the ninth.
The Thunderbirds ended the afternoon with 15 hits and three errors. The T-Birds drop to 4-2 on the season and will face No. 7 Salt Lake CC on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m. MST in Hobbs, NM.
