March 26, 2007

The Northeastern Junior College baseball team took the final two games of a four-game set with McCook.

NJC completed the sweep on Monday at home, beating McCook 7-4 and 9-3. The Plainsmen improved to 7-1 in Region IX and 18-7-1 overall.

Freshman Jose Collazo continued to drive in runs for NJC. The Puerto Rico native sent a two-run homer over the right field fence in Game One to put the Plainsmen in the lead. He added an RBI-groundout later in the game to knock in six runs in the series.

Loveland freshman Danny Brock had two hits and an RBI to add to the NJC attack.

Freshman lefty-hander Ty Cardona picked up the win on the mound. Cardona ran into trouble in the sixth inning when McCook cut the 5-0 Plainsmen lead to 5-4. Las Vegas freshman Justin Mattelka came on to pick up the save, throwing the final 1 1/3 innings.

The Plainsmen jumped on top of McCook early in the second game when Laramie, Wyo., freshman Josh Warren led off the game with a single and stole second base. Warren advanced to third on a Mike Mendenhall ground ball, then scored on a wild pitch.

Northeastern took control of the game in the third and fifth innings behind winning pitcher, Arvin Perez.

In the third, freshman catcher Rhett Welsh led off with a single to start the rally. Jeff Squier knocked in Welsh with a single, and Phoenix, Ariz., freshman Colton Williams broke things open with a two-RBI double down the right field line.

The wheels fell off for McCook in the fifth inning. Squier started the inning with a single, and Gus Velazquez and Williams followed with bunt singles. Langston Frison's RBI groundout plated two more runs.

Perez threw five innings before giving way to fellow Puerto Rico native Jesus Colon. Colon slammed the door shut with two innings of scoreless relief.

NJC takes on Colorado State-Club at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Fort Collins.