Rams split with Clovis

The Portales Rams lost focus late in the first game but re-grouped for a split Tuesday against Clovis.

Portales allowed the Wildcats to rally in a 6-5 win but dominated the second game 11-1, thanks to big hitting and several Wildcat miscues.

“(Clovis) made a lot of errors,” Rams coach Arturo Ontiveros said. “They threw the ball around a little bit and spotted us some runs. We kind of just took advantage of that and we had some pretty big hits in clutch situations ... they didn’t come out ready to play and it kind of bite’em in the butt.”

Senior pitcher Phillip Danbom allowed one run on five hits and struck out three in the night-cap.

Sophomore Logan Erf brought in two runs in a second inning that saw the Rams score eight runs. The Rams plated two insurance runs in the fourth inning, before the game was called after the fifth.

The Rams played well in the first game of the doubleheader, taking a 4-3 lead into the seventh inning, but watched as Clovis rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to steal the opener 6-5.

“(Clovis) came out and did what they had to do,” Ontiveros said. “We had several opportunities throughout the game to score some runs and we just kind of sat on our lead. We just never got the big hit for the situation.”

Senior pitcher Mario Salazar confounded Clovis hitters throughout the beginning of the contest, striking out 13 Wildcats.

“He’s been giving us a chance to win,” Ontiveros said. “It would have been a nice victory for us, we just kind of let him down at the end.”

Salazar did his part from the plate as well, going 3-for-3 and bringing home a run.

Sophomore Joe Sandoval went 3-for-4, with two RBI’s.

The Rams (10-7, 7-3) resume District 4-3A action Saturday hosting the NMMI Colts at Ram Field.