Karen Boehler
CCSR writer/editor
Bronco Jake Martin had a solid effort on the mound Tuesday, giving up only one run in six innings.
(CCSR photo by Steve Notz)
Led by sophomores Roman Alfaro and J.P. Parra, the New Mexico Military Institute broke out the bats in a big way against Wayland Baptist University’s junior varsity squad Tuesday, lighting up Pioneer pitching for 14 runs off 18 hits in two games and 12 innings.
The hit-fest plus another great outing by the NMMI bullpen gave the Broncos two more ticks in the win column, improving their record to 5-8 on the season.
Down 1-0 after the third inning in game one, the Broncos came back with one run in the fifth — an error put No. 9 hitter Josh Loera on base; he advanced on a ground out and scored on a single by Blake Thomsen — and another in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead going into the seventh inning.
Then things broke down a bit.
Solomon Schneider came in to relieve starting Institute pitcher Jake Martin, but couldn’t get the save as a pair of singles separated by a stolen base allowed Wayland to tie things up, and it looked like extra innings were in the offing.
But with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Parra tripled off the fence in left field to score Alfaro from second base for the game-winning run, giving the Broncos the 3-2 victory.
Alfaro and Parra combined for six of the Broncos’ eight hits in the game, with Alfaro also stealing three bases, and Parra picking up 2 RBIs on a pair of doubles and the triple.
Schneider got the win for NMMI — putting him at 1-0 for the season — while Jobi Sanchez, who went the distance for WBU, got the loss.
Bronco Roman Alfaro waits for the ball to make an out. While the first baseman was solid defensively— with 13 putouts — it was on offense that he shone, going 3-for-4 with four stolen bases in Game 1.
(CCSR photo by Steve Notz)
In Game 2, after NMMI starter Raul Fernandez gave up a two-spot to the Pioneers in the top of the first, Javier Sanchez and Joseph Camp blanked the Baptists for the next four innings.
Bronco coach Bret Simmermacher sounded much happier after Tuesday’s game, noting Sanchez “pretty much shut the door, which enabled our hitters (to hit.) And a testament to our players, they came back in the bottom half of the inning and got three runs.”
And that wasn’t all.
The Bronco bats exploded for 12 runs and 10 hits in four innings, allowing the Institute to end things early after the top of the fifth due to the 10-run mercy rule, 12-2.
After a season in which runs have been hard to come by, the Broncos tallied three in the first, one in the second and four each in the third and fourth. They also left far fewer runners on base than in previous outing, stranding only three in the game.
Parra again led NMMI at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance with three runs scored and two more RBIs.
Ben Chavez was also a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI.
Sanchez picked up the win for the Broncos by going three innings and allowing no runs off two hits and no walks while striking out five.
Simmermacher was pleased with the offensive effort, especially by Alfaro, who led off last season.
“We’ve been struggling in our three spot, so I was looking for someone who might have a little pop in their bat,” the coach said. “He was pretty much the catalyst in getting on base and making things happen.”
He also said Parra “finally got on track,” and singled out Luis Maldonado and Josh Loera.
“We’re getting some guys to start swinging the bat,” he said. “It was a good, quality day for us, and hopefully we’ll take this into the weekend.”
This weekend includes a pair of seven-inning games Saturday followed by a single nine-inning game Sunday vs. the visiting Dodge City Conquistadors. The first pitch is set for noon both days.
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