T-Birds Split Home Series Against Hawks, Stay in First for the WJCAC

The T-Birds fell flat in a 9-7 Game 3 loss to Howard College. 

Third baseman Dylan Jasso homered on the third pitch of the day to open up the scoring for the T-Birds. NMJC ended up plating three runs in the first and went up by a score of 4-0 after three innings. Howard's Kaden Spence made a gash in the lead in the top of the fourth with a three-run shot to center to make it 4-3 in favor of NMJC.

Left fielder Kolton Koonce hit a 2-run home run in the bottom half of the inning to keep the T-Birds ahead by three runs, 6-3. The Hawks scored three runs in the top of the fourth to tie the score 6-6. 

Two more runs came across the plate for the Hawks in the top of the sixth, which gave Howard their first lead of the game 8-6. 

Jasso's second solo homer of the day pulled the T-Birds within one run in the bottom of the sixth, however the Hawks got an insurance run in the top of the seventh to push ahead by two runs 9-7. Jasso came up to bat one more time with an opportunity to tie the score with two outs, but he popped up to end the game. 

Landen Yorek started the game for the T-Birds going four and a third innings allowing two earned runs on eight hits. Hayden Snell came in relief for NMJC and recorded his first loss of the season in an inning of work.

Third baseman Dylan Jasso went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs. Shortstop Brent Iredale was 1-for-1 with two walks, a double and two runs scored. 

Second baseman Aaron Lugo finished the game with a double and an RBI. Designated hitter Erick Ballenilla went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.  

The T-Birds drop to 39-11 (26-5) on the season. 

Game 2

The Thunderbirds bounced back in Game 4 against the Hawks in a five-inning throttling of Howard College 22-2.

Max Swenson started on the mound for the first three innings allowing two earned runs and striking out four. The sophomore earned his third win of the season.

The Thunderbirds trailed 2-0 after the first half inning before scoring 22 straight runs to finish the game. NMJC plated seven in the first inning, two in the second, seven in the third, and six across in the fourth inning.  

Erick Ballenilla went 2-for-2 hitting a 3-run home run in the bottom of the first. The freshman left fielder added a double, four RBIs, and four runs scored. 

Center fielder Rafael Gross hit a 2-run home run in the first and scored two runs in the contest.

Lorenzo Morresi was 3-for-4 on the afternoon, hitting a second straight homer for the T-Birds in the first inning and third overall in the frame. The sophomore catcher completed the day with a double and three runs scored.

Designated hitter Mark Henning was perfect 4-4 with a finished with a triple, a double, two singles, and seven RBIs.

Right fielder Josh Pearl went 4-for-4 with three doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored.

First baseman Luis Gonzalez recorded a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth and finished with three RBIs in the game. The Thunderbirds registered 20 hits, six doubles, and four homers on the day.

The Thunderbirds are 40-11 (27-5) on the season and maintain a three-game lead on Midland College in the race for the WJCAC Championship. 

The T-Birds will face Midland College Friday, May 5 at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. MDT in Hobbs, NM. NMJC will need to win one of the final four games against the Chaps to secure the WJCAC title.