April 28, 2007

The Northeastern Junior College baseball team split a doubleheader with Otero on Saturday in La Junta. The split moved the Plainsmen's record to 23-19 overall and 12-12 in Region IX play.

Reno freshman Justin Sortino pitched three and two-thirds innings in relief to secure NJC's 7-4 victory in Game One. The lefty came on in the fourth inning for starter Derrick Townsend who picked up the win.

Northeastern fell behind, 3-0, after two innings before the offense was kick-started by Langston Frison's RBI triple in the top of the third. The Plainsmen scored six runs in the inning to put Otero away.

In the second game, NJC starting pitcher James Quisenberry pitched into the eighth inning with the score tied at three. Otero scored on a suicide squeeze play in the bottom of the ninth to take the game, 4-3.

The 4-3 loss was NJC's 13th, one-run loss of the season.

The Plainsmen trailed Otero, 3-2, in the seventh inning when Curtis Burback singled and advanced to second. Laramie, Wyo.; sophomore Mike Mendenhall then singled in pinch runner Pat Roche with two outs to send the game into extra innings.

Burback and freshman catcher Rhett Welsh had two hits apiece to lead NJC at the plate.