On Friday afternoon New Mexico Military Institute defeated Clarendon College 6-1 in the first game of the series and followed up with a 10-4 win in game two at the NMMI Ballpark. With the wins, the Broncos move to 4-2 in conference play with an 18-6 overall record. With the loss, the Bulldogs dip to 5-19 overall with a 2-4 mark in conference play.
GAME 1
The Bulldogs opened the game quietly, managing just a double from J. Menjivar in the first inning before being retired without a run. NMMI struck early in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of a throwing error by the Bulldogs' shortstop that allowed Missael Maldonado Baez to score, putting NMMI up 1–0.
The second inning proved disastrous for the Bulldogs' pitching staff. Starter Pearce Kelly struggled with command, hitting and walking batters to load the bases, and a series of passed balls and a Maldonado Baez RBI double extended the NMMI lead. Joek Rivera added an RBI single to make it 5–0 before reliever J. Samuels finally ended the frame.
From there, Hyunwook Lee settled in and dominated on the mound, scattering a handful of hits while striking out several Bulldogs. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs couldn't capitalize on scoring opportunities, stranding runners in multiple innings. In the fifth, Menjivar broke through with a solo home run to right field—the Bulldogs' lone run—but it was too little, too late.
NMMI added one more run in the sixth when E. Ramirez doubled and scored following a fielding error in center. D. Kim recorded the RBI single on the play before being thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.
Despite a late rally attempt in the seventh with back-to-back singles, the Bulldogs' offense was stifled once more by reliever N. Serna, who closed the door with solid defense behind him.
GAME 2
The Bulldogs went down quickly in the top of the first inning as NMMI pitcher E. Torres struck out two hitters and benefited from a dropped third strike to end the frame. NMMI capitalized immediately in the bottom half. After Damwoo Kim drew a walk and Seungmin Shin singled, aggressive baserunning and a defensive error allowed the first run to score. Another walk and an RBI single from Missael Maldonado Baez extended the lead, and additional defensive miscues helped NMMI push across two more runs to take an early 4–0 advantage.
The Bulldogs responded in the top of the third inning. After A. Litton was hit by a pitch and Z. Moore singled, J. Menjivar delivered a clutch two-run single to center field to cut the deficit to 4–2. D. Declancy followed with another single to keep the rally alive, but a strikeout ended the threat.
NMMI answered right back in the bottom of the third. A walk and a pair of singles set the table before Sangwoon Jeon drove in a run with a ground ball. Another run scored on a groundout, giving NMMI a 6–2 lead.
Both teams had scoring chances in the middle innings. The Bulldogs threatened in the fourth with a double by T. Rojer, but a double play erased the opportunity. NMMI added another run in the fifth when Damwoo Kim singled home Wonjae Cho, extending the lead to 7–2.
The Bulldogs chipped away in the sixth when J. Diaz doubled and later scored on a wild pitch, making it 7–3. They added another run in the seventh as D. Declancy singled to bring home N. Felix Jr., cutting the deficit to three.
However, NMMI sealed the game late. A sacrifice fly from D. Kim in the seventh and two additional runs in the eighth inning stretched the lead to 10–4. The Bulldogs managed a late baserunner in the ninth but were unable to rally, as NMMI closed out the win.
UP NEXT
The Broncos host Clarendon College on Saturday for another pair of games to close out the series. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for noon.