Thunderbirds 1st Inning Onslaught Takes Care of Garden

A five-run first inning catapulted the T-Birds to a 10-1 victory over Garden City CC in the second game of the season.

The Thunderbirds loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with no outs. NMJC hit two singles, a sac fly, and a double to put five runners across the plate by the end of the inning.

Garden scored their only run of the game in the top of the fifth. 

Brent Iredale led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer. The T-Birds went on to tack two more runs across in the fifth to bring the lead to 8-1. NMJC added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the total 10-1, which ultimately was the final score. 

Erick Ballenilla finished the game for the T-Birds on the mound going one inning and striking out two. This was the first time in Ballenilla's junior college career that he pitched in a game. Ballenilla predominantly played left field last season, but now he resides in the infield at second and third base.

Starting pitcher Donovan Becerra earned his first win of the season after striking out five in three innings of work. Becerra walked four allowing one hit and one earned run. 

Santana Hernandez lasted 2 2/3 innings in relief with two strikeouts. Andrew Ender replaced Hernandez with two outs and a runner on in the top of the sixth. Ender struck out the only batter he faced to get the T-Birds out of the inning. 

Second baseman Jose Contreras went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and double. Shortstop/third baseman Brent Iredale was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBIs, and a solo homer. 

DH Travis Vlasek finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a double, a steal, and an RBI. First baseman Lane Arroyos had a double and two RBIs.

NMJC finished the game with 11 hits and nine RBIs. 

The No. 19 Thunderbirds start the year 2-0 and will play New Mexico Military Institute at Ray Birmingham Field on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 12 p.m. MST.