The Trinidad State baseball team keeps finding ways to win. Entering the second week of April, and the toughest part of the regular season schedule, the Trojans have improved their record to an impressive 22-8. The wins have come in all forms, from come-from-behind, to blowouts, to nail biting walk offs. They just keep getting the job done. This was case this past week when the Trojans picked up victories over Western Nebraska, Northeastern and Otero.
On Saturday the first game against WNCC saw the Trojans take an early lead on a Cruz Nevarez 3-run triple to right. The Cougars cut into the lead in the fourth before the Trojans put it away 7-4 with three runs in the fifth. Alex Goodman tossed 6 2/3 strong innings to pick up the win. The second game of the doubleheader was close until the Trojans pulled away with a six-run fifth inning, capped off with an Alex Dominguez homerun, to win 10-0. James Smith went the distance on the hill, striking out five to claim his third win of the season and Dan Jurney had a huge game at the plate going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homerun and four RBIs.
Game one on Sunday against NJC was a pitchers duel that saw the Trojans trailing 1-0 after four complete innings. In the fifth, catcher Bronson Butcher got Trinidad on the board with a towering homerun to center. TSJC then would take the lead in the sixth when Damian Rodriguez started the inning off with a double. Cleanup hitter Dominguez sacrificed him to third and then Jack Orozco hit a towering fly ball, deep enough to bring Rodriguez in for the winning run. Cam Baird picked up his fourth win of the year, giving up one earned over seven innings of work, striking out four. The Plainsmen scored first in the second game but the Trojans bats were primed and ready. TSJC brought 13 runs across in the contest, including nine in the sixth inning, to win it 13-3. Colin Pratt put in two innings of work for the win.
On Wednesday the Trojans traveled to La Junta to face Otero for the first time this season. The two rivals exchanged the lead several times until TSJC moved ahead to stay with four runs in the top of the seventh. Pratt picked up the 7-5 win in relief and Jurney worked the ninth for the save.
Trinidad State is now 11-1 in conference play. They will host Miles Community College (12-10-1, 7-5) for six straight games this weekend, doubleheaders on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The first pitch each afternoon will be at 1 p.m. at Central Park.