April 16, 2007

The Northeastern Junior College baseball team split with Lamar in Sterling on Sunday to round out a four-game split in the series.

The Plainsmen improved to 21-15 on the season and 10-8 in Region IX play.

Lamar took the first game on Sunday, 5-1.

NJC sophomore Mike Mendenhall knocked in the only run of the game for the Plainsmen with a sacrifice fly to left in the bottom of the sixth inning. Northeastern was down 3-0 when they loaded the bases, and Mendenhall sent a rocket to the gap in left center. Lamar center fielder Collin Allen ran the ball down to secure the Lamar victory.

In the second game of the twinbill, NJC freshman James Quisenberry stole the show.

The 6-7 lefty from Denver threw a complete-game shutout to lead the Plainsmen to a 5-0 win. Quisenberry used just 70 pitches in seven innings to get the win. The transfer from Hutchinson surrendered just three hits in the gem.

Northeastern's offense finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs. With neither team yet to score, Gus Velazquez singled to spark the game-winning rally.

Colton Williams followed with a single, and sophomore Pat Roche drew a walk to load the bases. Josh Warren came to the plate and was hit by a pitch to break the scoreless tie. Mendenhall and Jeff Squier followed with RBI walks to push the Plainsmen lead to 3-0.

Freshman Sam Feiner broke the game open with a double down the right-field line that plated Warren and Mendenhall.

Coach Bryan Shepherd's Plainsmen take on Trinidad in Sterling on Sunday in a doubleheader at 1 p.m.