On Friday night, behind a commanding performance on the mound from Juan Carlos Hurtado and a relentless approach at the plate, the New Mexico Military Institute Colts secured an 8-1 victory over the Tohatchi Cougars. With the win, the Colts improve to 12-15 overall while Tohatchi moves to 17-5 on the year. 

Hurtado was the story for much of the evening. He settled into a dominant rhythm, keeping the Tohatchi hitters off-balance with a sharp mix of strikes. Hurtado finished the day with double-digit strikeouts, including striking out the side in the second and fifth innings.

The Cougars’ lone breakthrough came in the top of the fourth when Rickey Long singled and eventually crossed the plate on a Brayden Chee RBI groundout, cutting the deficit to 4-1. However, Hurtado responded by retiring nine of the final eleven batters he faced to seal the complete-game effort.

NMMI’s offense found its stride in the bottom of the second. After Grant Maloney walked and Nicolas Barcelo singled, a balk by Tohatchi’s Tatum Bitsie allowed the first run to cross. The Colts didn’t stop there; Michael Ortega drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, followed by an RBI single from Brock Spear. A wild pitch later in the frame allowed Spear to score, staking NMMI to a comfortable 4-0 lead.

While the middle innings turned into a pitcher's duel, the Colts’ discipline at the plate paid off in the sixth. After loading the bases via a single and two walks, Grant Maloney delivered the knockout blow—a bases-clearing double to left field that drove in three runs. Nicolas Barcelo immediately followed with an RBI single to center, extending the lead to 8-1.

Tohatchi attempted a two-out rally in the seventh after a base hit by Chee, but Hurtado remained unfazed, recording his final two strikeouts to end the contest.

UP NEXT

The three-game series continues tomorrow morning at the NMMI Ballpark. Game two is scheduled for 11 a.m. The winner of the series will advance to the NMAA Class 3A Quarterfinals, where a game with the No. 1 seed awaits.