Rams fall in twin bill at NMMI

ROSWELL — New Mexico Military Institute erased an 8-0 deficit Tuesday and edged Portales High 11-10 in the first game of a District 4-3A baseball doubleheader.

The Colts went on to get the sweep, posting a 12-2 win in the second game. NMMI scored twice in the bottom of the fifth in that one to end the contest on the 10-run rule.

Portales (10-8, 2-2 district) broke a scoreless tie in the opener with seven runs in the top of the second.

With Justin Gilchrist on first and two out, Sammy Hightower hit a run-scoring double. Hightower then scored when NMMI’s left fielder misplayed Lynn Pinedo’s line drive for an error, and Cruz Ontiveros hit an RBI single for a 3-0 lead.

Mario Salazar’s single drove in another run, while an error on the pitcher let in a run and made it 5-0. Jacob Lopez drew a bases-loaded walk, and the final run scored on a wild pitch.

Portales scored again in the third on an RBI double by Eric Ornelas for an 8-0 lead, but the Colts countered with five in the bottom of the inning and five more in the fourth to move in front 10-8.

The Rams tied it with two in the fifth, but the Colts punched over the deciding run in the sixth.

Ornelas led PHS’ attack, going 3-for-4. No one else had more than one hit.

Gilchrist was the losing pitcher, allowing six hits and six walks with three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. The Rams’ defense was guilty of five errors behind him.

In the second game, NMMI took command right away with an eight-run first, then added two in the third.

Portales countered with its only runs in the fourth. Gilchrist led off with a single, stole second and scored on a single by Lopez.

Tomas Sotelo followed with an RBI triple, but the Rams stranded him at third when the next three hitters struck out.

NMMI outhit Portales in the game 14-5. Lopez had two of the Rams’ hits.

Salazar took the loss, pitching into the third inning. Lawrence Gamble and Hightower also worked on the mound.

The Rams return to action with an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Saturday against Lovington at Ram Field. NMMI leads the district at 3-1, while Lovington is 2-2 and Ruidoso 1-3 in the district after those teams split on Tuesday.

Dora drops twin bill — Roswell Valley Christian handed Dora a pair of losses in non-district baseball on Tuesday, winning the first game of their doubleheader 13-4 and coming back for an 11-6 win in the nightcap.

The losses drop the Coyotes to a 4-7 record for the season.

“They hit the ball pretty hard,” Dora coach Ty Thatcher said. “They have a pretty veteran squad — a lot of seniors.”

Brent Hays got the Coyotes off to a good start in the second game with an RBI double in the first before Valley Christian rallied back.

Chance Agguire and Dan Massey each had a hit in both games to pace the Coyotes’ offense for the day.