On Friday afternoon New Mexico Military suffered a 7-5 game one loss to Midland College at the NMMI Ballpark. The Broncos followed up with a 7-6 win in the second game of the series. With the split, NMMI moves to 35-15 overall with a 19-11 mark in conference play. Midland College now posts a 28-2 record in conference play with a 43-5 overall mark.
GAME 1
The game opened with both sides trading blows. Midland jumped out to an early lead in the first, but the Broncos answered immediately via a Missael Maldonado Baez sacrifice fly. The teams remained locked in a stalemate until the sixth inning, when NMMI's Sangwoon Jeon electrified the home crowd with a two-run blast to left field, giving the Broncos a 5-4 advantage.
The Chaparrals refused to go quietly, manufacturing the tying run in the top of the seventh. After J. Gil and C. Eagar reached on back-to-back singles, S. Andrachick grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed Gil to cross the plate, evening the score at 5-5.
In the top of the eighth, Midland's offense found its spark again. A. Velarde and B. McTavish set the stage with consecutive singles before D. Myrow delivered the play of the game—a clutch two-run triple to center field. The hit cleared the bases, scoring both runners and providing the Chaparrals with a critical two-run cushion. The Chaparrals would go on to take the first game 7-5 after eight innings.
GAME 2
In a contest defined by early offensive fireworks and late-inning tension, New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) fended off a persistent Midland College comeback to secure a narrow 7-6 victory.
The Broncos' bats wasted no time, erupting for six runs in the first two frames. After a quiet top of the first, Javier Yepiz ignited the offense with a double before Missael Maldonado Baez crushed a two-run homer to left. The second inning proved even more productive; following an error, Sangwoon Jeon launched a two-run blast to right, and Maldonado Baez followed suit later in the inning with his second two-run shot of the day and 12th of the year, pushing the lead to 6-2.
Midland College refused to go away quietly, chipping away at the deficit through the middle innings. C. Olivas and B. McTavish drove in runs in the second, while solo home runs from C. Eagar and C. Neatherlin brought the Chaparrals within two.
The fifth inning provided a pivotal defensive stand for NMMI. After loading the bases, relief pitcher Javier Garcia entered the fray and struck out Olivas to strand three runners and preserve the slim lead.
The power display continued in the sixth as A. Velarde homered for Midland, but Jeon answered in the bottom half with his second home run of the game - his eighth of the year, providing a crucial insurance run. Despite a solo shot from Midland's S Andrachick in the seventh, the Bronco defense held firm to seal the narrow 7-6 win.
UP NEXT
The Broncos close out the series tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. at the NMMI Ballpark.