Two games, two walkoff victories for the Wranglers.
The Odessa College baseball team began its four-game series with Western Texas College by recording wins of 9-8 and 5-4 against the Westerners Friday at Wrangler Ballpark.
Odessa College improved to 20-9 overall, 12-2 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference play while the Westerners fell to 7-26, 2-12.
“With this group, they’re fighting and my heart rate is never too high because I know they’ll give us a chance to win,” Odessa College head coach David Wood said. “However, you would like to have a little less anxiety, but I’m proud of our guys for getting the wins and their fight.”
Alex Bustamante would get the walkoff victory in game one before Eiji Sawamura got the winning hit in game two.
“They both had huge at bats,” Wood said. “… Hopefully this gives them more confidence and know that they can do this at any given time.”
Western Texas College got things going in the first game with a triple by Ben Blanchard in the top of the first inning.
His teammate scored him as David Castillo’s single into right field gave the Westerners an early 1-0 lead.
Evan Morrison then doubled into deep left field and the visitors had another runner in scoring position.
However, Odessa College pitcher Brandon Huff struck out Easton Stewart to leave a runner stranded and the Wranglers’ deficit was 1-0.
Odessa College used a response with a leadoff home run by Robert De La Garza in the bottom half of the inning to tie things up.
Alejandro Rivera stole second off a pitching error and Nathaniel Mendoza hit the second home run for the Wranglers, giving the hosts a 3-1 lead.
Western Texas College hit a two-run homer as Gage Dorris tied the game up in the top of the fourth.
Odessa College’s Anthony Llera scored Lazaro Alvarado and Mendoza on a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth.
Llera then found home on a single by Jose Carmona as the Wranglers built a 6-3 lead.
Blanchard used a double into deep right field to get on second in the top of the fifth.
The Westerners got a run as Blanchard slid home off an Odessa College error.
Brenan Daniel took over on the mound in the bottom of the fifth for the Westerners, replacing Marcus Sanders.
Matt Macklin replaced Huff on the mound for the Wranglers at the start of the sixth inning.
Western Texas College took the lead on a three-run homer shortly after.
The Wranglers couldn’t respond in the bottom of the sixth.
Jackson Peters then took over on the mound at the top of the seventh.
The Westerners managed to get a runner in scoring position as Morrison advanced to third on a sacrifice.
Morrison would score on an error by Odessa College on a fly ball by Kooper Jones and the Westerners had an 8-6 lead.
Odessa College responded with Bustamante and Rivera getting on base in the bottom of the seventh.
Mendoza tied the game with his double RBI into left field.
That led Western Texas College to make another pitching change as Ethan Berube took over on the mound for the Westerners with the Wranglers sitting at one out.
A pitching error allowed pinch runner Zach Cline to get on third with Llera at bat.
The Wranglers were unable to get the walkoff and the game went into extra innings.
Trey Jeanes was walked after getting hit by a pitch.
De La Garza doubled into deep left field in the bottom of the eighth.
Bustamante got the walkoff victory with his RBI single and the Wranglers won 9-8.
“Our team never gives up,” Wood said. “We preach that day in and day out. They’re competitive. There’s a lot of moving parts with a lot of pinch runners and pinch hitters, but they’re not selfish.”
Both teams scored one run apiece in the first inning.
A double by De La Garza in the bottom of the third got something going for the Wranglers after a quiet second inning.
However, Odessa College couldn’t capitalize and the game remained tied.
Western Texas College jumped in front in the top of the fourth with a run.
A sacrifice by Jones scored Nolan Hunt to give the Westerners a 3-1 lead.
The Wranglers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth.
Western Texas College’s Gage Dorris used a home run over the right field fence to give the Westerners a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh.
Bustamante got on first with his single into center field in the bottom of the inning.
Mendoza got out at first but advanced his teammate to second.
Lazaro Alvarado was the next at-bat and he scored Bustamante with his single into centerfield.
With one out, Llera was the next batter up for Odessa College.
Llera got on base with a single to center.
Connor Rabe struck out for the Wranglers’ second out before Sawamura would win it with his walkoff single to center field.
“I wasn’t thinking about anything else except doing my best,” Sawamura said. “I was just trying to hit it down the middle.”
Both teams will be back in action with a doubleheader beginning at noon Saturday in Snyder to conclude the series.
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