May 1, 2006

The Northeastern Baseball team swept a double header from Otero JC on Monday afternoon to finsh 2nd in the Empire Conference standings, and to earn a 1st round bye in the Region IX Tourney. The Plainsmen would take game 1 5-0 behind the strong pitching performance of RHP Calder Hendrickson. Hendrickson fired a complete game on 70 pitches, while striking out 6 and giving up 6 hits. The score was tied 0-0 in the bottom of the 5th inning when John Richards led off with a doulble, followed by an RBI single by Marc Baca. A two-run homerun from NJC catcher Chad Jacobsen would give the Plainsmen a 3-0 lead as they would go on to score 5 in the inning. Game two saw another strong pitching performance from RHP Jacob Clinton. Clinton fired a complete game while giving up 3 hits and walking 3 on the day. NJC took and early 1-0 lead, as John Richards stole 2nd base and advanced to 3rd on a errant throw from the catcher. Richards would score on a ground ball from Chad Jacobsen. Otero would tie the game at 1-1 when a dropped fly ball in the outfield allowed the inning to continue and the tying run to score. The game was at a stalemate until Jeff Squier would hit a two out single on an 0-2 count to drive in Luke Snider for the game winning run. NJC got two quick outs in the 7th, but then with a walk, single, and another walk, OJC looked to be in good shape until Clinton got the hitter to ground out to third for the final out. NJC got strong pitching and timely offense to get the necessary sweep to earn the tourney bye. NJC will play CSU Club on Saturday in Fort Collins. Those games can be heard on 105.7 KPMX Radio or on the internet at KPMX.COM.