STATE BASEBALL: Rams trounce Ruidoso

ALBUQUERQUE — The second-seeded Portales High baseball team advanced to the Class 4A state tournament semifinals on Thursday with a 14-4 win over District 4-4A rival Ruidoso.

The Rams (22-7) took control with a six-run second to earn a 10 a.m. semifinal date today with St. Michael’s at UNM Field. The Warriors’ season ended at 14-11-1.

St. Michael’s advanced after a 10-9 win over Bernalillo Thursday. The teams have not played each other since the 2008 then-Class 3A semifinals, a game won by the Rams 16-0. Portales lost to Cobre the following day in the championship.

While Ruidoso mounted a three-run fourth to try to get back in it, Portales (22-7) didn’t let up.

“That big inning came because we did some little things right, drawing a walk and then bunting the kid over,” Rams coach Dusty Nusser said. “So those types of things really got our offense going, putting us in position to have those big innings.”

Alex Galvan and Emilio Lovato each homered for the Rams, while Joseph Ortega went 3-for-4. Lovato earned the win with a six-inning complete game, allowing seven hits and two earned runs while striking out four.

Portales won easily despite committing four errors, with Nusser explaining that the team may have been a little tight in the first inning. The offense for Portales usually takes an inning or two to get going, Nusser said, but he said the team’s pitching usually keeps the Rams in games early.

“We struggled a little bit defensively in the first inning, but then our kids settled down and Emilio really kept us in it,” said Nusser. “He did what he’s done for us all year, and then we were able to get the bats going.”