T-Birds Start the Season 1-0

The No. 19 Thunderbirds used a six-run fourth inning to defeat Northeastern Junior College 10-2. 

Third baseman Brent Iredale scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first to get the party started for the T-Birds. Northeastern was able to tie up the score at 1-1 in the top of the third after a throwing error by NMJC center fielder Christian Hoffman.

The T-Bird onslaught began in the bottom of the third. Jonatan Clough scored on a wild pitch to put NMJC in front 2-1. 

The Plainsmen recorded a second out in the inning and were on their way out of a jam when things began to unravel. Then, the Plainsmen gave up three walks, two errors and a single. Northeastern was now staring at a 7-1 deficit after three.   

The Plainsmen added a run in the top of the fifth to pull within five runs, 7-2.

Christian Hoffman opened the bottom of the fifth with a homer for the T-Birds to make the score 8-2. An RBI double with two outs from DH Adrien Martin scored another run. Erick Ballenilla followed the double by Martin with a single to right field that scored Martin and made the score 10-2 in favor of NMJC. The score proved to be final.

Cade Smith started the game on the mound for NMJC. Smith allowed four hits and struck out three batters over four innings to earn his first victory of the season. The freshman allowed one unearned run in the outing.

Isaiah Arteaga came in relief pitching 1 2/3 innings while striking out four. Issei Yanagisawa finished the game off for NMJC going 1 1/3 innings and striking out two batters. 

Second baseman Erick Ballenilla went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Third baseman Brent Iredale was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Right fielder Jayren Foster went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Center fielder Christian Hoffman was 1-for-4 with a solo home run. 

NMJC finished the game with eight hits and five RBIs. 

The No. 19 Thunderbirds earn their first win of the season and will play in their second game of the year against Garden City CC at Ray Birmingham Field on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. MST.