Rams post sweep at NMMI

ROSWELL — With the District 4-4A title already in hand, the Portales Rams are aiming their sights on a high seed in the Class 4A baseball tournament.

Put two more notches in that category, with the Rams sweeping New Mexico Military Institute 4-2 and 10-4 to remain perfect in district play.

“Wins are wins, no matter who you play,” said Ram coach Dusty Nusser, whose team has now won a dozen straight. “That’s what we’ve been talking about. We’re playing for something bigger than a district championship. We’re trying to put ourselves in the best position for seeding on Sunday.”

Portales (15-6, 10-0) trailed at one point, 2-0 in the first inning of the second game, but righted the ship quickly with a four-run second on a night where small ball ruled.

“The wind was blowing straight in from left,” Nusser said, “probably 30 mph at the beginning, so we had to work our game around it. We had to bunt more. Defensively, I thought we played really well for the conditions.”

Jacob Salgado scattered six hits in the opener for a complete game win, and also went 4-for-4 at the plate. Juan Espinoza went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

In the nightcap, Emillo Lovato finished one inning shy of a complete game himself, and allowed three runs in six innings of work before Josiah Lucero pitched the seventh in a non-save situation. Salgado went 3-for-5, while Lucero went 1-for-4 with a 3-run double.

Portales closes out the regular season with a pair of doubleheaders, 4 p.m. Friday in Eunice and 1 p.m. Saturday at home against East Mountain. Saturday is the district’s scheduled makeup date for rainouts. Nusser said he’ll definitely start senior Grant Wagner on the mound in one of the East Mountain games, but hasn’t decided starters for the remaining three games.

District 4-4A

First game

Portales 4, N.M. Military Institute 2

Portales 020 011 0 — 4 13 2

NMMI 002 000 0 — 2 6 2

Jacob Salgado and Joel Legarda; Eli Aguilar, Frank Marchi (7) and Jake Guerrero. Top hitters — Portales: Salgado 4-4; Joe Ortega 2-4; Emilio Lovato 1-4, RBI; Draven Saiz 1-4, 2B, RBI; Juan Espinoza 2-3, 2B, RBI; Legarda 1-3, 2B. NMMI: Michel Hinojos 2-4, RBI.

District 4-4A

Second game

Portales 040 000 6 — 10 11 0

NMMI 200 010 1 — 4 5 3

Emilio Lovato, Joshia Lucero (7) and Joel Legarda; Michel Hinojos, Francisco Rivera (5), Connor Roe (7) and Jake Guerrero. Top hitters — Portales: Jacob Salgado 3-5; Emilio Lovato 1-3, RBI; Draven Saiz 2-4, RBI; Legarda 2-4; Josiah Lucero 1-4, 2B, 3 RBI; Wagner 1-3, 2B; Juan Espinoza 1-4, 2 RBI. Records — Portales 15-6, 10-0; NMMI 8-16, 4-8.