BASEBALL: Rodriguez throws gem to help Chaps split with OC

By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Midland College pitcher Luis Rodriguez knew that he needed to have a quality start against Odessa College on Saturday to help save some arms out of the bullpen.

The second-year right-hander for the Chaparrals delivered as he allowed just seven hits, walked one, hit one batter and struck out seven in a 10-0 run-ruled victory in six innings of the first game at Christensen Stadium. That win helped the Chaps split the four-game series with the Wranglers as OC returned the favor in the series final with 13-3 run-ruled victory in eight innings.

It was obvious that neither team had that much pitching left after going through their bullpen, especially in a 23-19 MC victory in the second game on Friday.

Rodriguez gave the Chaps (23-13, 10-6 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference) a much-needed quality start. After working out of a jam in the top of the first inning, the Denver City product and Incarnate Word signee was sharp, especially against the dangerous middle of the order for the Wranglers (20-15, 8-8).

"I was feeling good," said Rodriguez, who threw 64 of his 84 pitches for strikes. "I was out there just trying to pound the strike zone pretty much and get ahead in the count. I had all my pitches working today, which helped. In any count, I would throw the slider and changeup and those were what kept me in there. Our defense backed me up and did a good job. The offense also put up quite a bit of runs, which helped me not go out there for the last inning."

MC head coach Hector Rodriguez, not related, said Luis' performance was "phenomenal."

"Game one was bad, game two was bad, having to use our bullpen and not having quality starts, so to come out and take the game over with our offense jumping on them early and him just doing his job, was huge," the head coach said. "It put us in a position to win the series in game four. It didn't work out that way, but a quality start from Luis."

The Chaps got all the runs they needed with four in the bottom of the first inning. They had five hits in the frame, including a two-run double by Gibrian Pena and a two-run single by Hudson Parker.

Parker finished the game going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Garrett Williams was also 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored from the leadoff spot, while Tyler Wulfert was 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run scored. Frayner Chavez was 2-for-3 with three RBI, and Luke Bumpus added two hits.

Midland High grad Tyler Wade took the loss for OC.

MC had a 2-0 lead through four innings in the finale but OC broke the game open with a five-run fifth as two Chap errors helped to extend the inning. Nathan Van Mannen had the big hit with a 3-run blast over left.

The Wranglers added four runs in the sixth and eighth innings to put the game away.

Chase Diggins drove in five runs to lead OC and had a three-run homer in the eighth. Jake Gonce also had a two-run blast in the sixth.

Riley Kettner got the win for the Wranglers.

MC was held to six hits and committed three errors.

"It looked like it was trending in the right direction for a little bit with us up 2-0," Hector Rodriguez said. "It was a typical game four. Who's paying attention? Who's hooked in? Who's ready to make a make a play? To give a team five outs in the fifth inning, you shoot yourself in the foot. In the next inning, they scored (four) more and I think we kicked it around again. Defensively, we weren't dialed in to make a play and it hurt us in the long run. You can't ask our offense to score 10-plus runs all the time. That's a lot to ask for our offense."

The split left the Chaps unsatisfied.

"If you're a championship team, you want to win the series," Hector Rodriguez said. "You go 2-2 against a quality team, at least you survived. We survived, we can go on to the next week. We've got a Clarendon team that's been struggling, and we've got them here at home. You would like to take care of business, win the series, if not maybe a little more if we can. It's one of those things where you're waiting to get on a roll. We haven't gotten on a roll like I thought we would be by now. As we hit the midway point of conference, we've got 16 more games left, four more opponents, we've got to find a way to get on a roll."

The Chaps host Howard College in a non-conference game at 3 p.m. Tuesday before hosting Clarendon College in a four-game series next Friday and Saturday.

"It's not what we wanted but we'll be back out next week and ready to go," Luis Rodriguez said. "Hopefully we'll get a sweep because that's what we'll be looking for."

Follow Oscar on Twitter: @OLeRoy_MRT 

FIRST GAME
MIDLAND COLLEGE 10, ODESSA COLLEGE 0, 6 Innings

Odessa 000 000 -- 0 3 0

Midland 423 001 -- 10 14 1

Tyler Wade, Luke Wiseman (3) and Argenis Santana. Luis Rodriguez and Hudson Parker. W – Rodriguez. L – Wade. 2B – MC: Garrett Williams, Gibrian Pena, Tyler Wulfert.

SECOND GAME
ODESSA COLLEGE 13, MIDLAND COLLEGE 3, 6 Innings

Odessa 000      054      04        --          13        11        0

Midland          011      010      00        --          3          6          3

Riley Gettner, Trent Hefner (6) and Jake Gonce. Jarek Wells, Caleb Heuertz (6) and Parker. W – Gettner, L – Wells. 2B – OC: Brandon Rincones, Chase Diggins; MC: Parker. HR – OC: Nathan Van Mannen, Chase Diggins. Gonce.

2022 WJCAC BASEBALL STANDINGS

LAST WEEKEND'S SERIES

Midland College 2, New Mexico Military Institute 2; Odessa College 2, Howard College 2; New Mexico JC 4, Frank Phillips College 0; El Paso CC 4, Clarendon College 0; Western Texas College was open

THIS WEEKEND'S SERIES

Midland College vs. Odessa College; Frank Phillips College at Howard College; Clarendon College at New Mexico JC; New Mexico Military Institute at Western Texas College; El Paso CC is open

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