The Odessa College Wranglers split Saturday’s WJCAC baseball doubleheader with Midland College at American Legion Park, clinching a berth in the NJCAA Region V Tournament in the process.
The Wranglers (33-23 overall, 23-13 WJCAC) won the opener 1-0 as John Bridgeman and J.J. Irvin-Lundquist combined on a three-hit shutout. Midland College (35-20, 25-11) won the nightcap 5-0 as Aaron Weseman and Carson Bailey combined on a three-hit shutout.
With Clarendon College losing at New Mexico Military Institute on Saturday, Odessa College clinched fourth place in the conference standings. The Chaparrals will be the WJCAC’s No. 3 seed for the regional tournament, scheduled for May 11-15 at AirHog Stadium in Grand Prairie.
In the opener, Deylan Moreno drove in the game’s only run in the second inning after Mitch Holding led off with a single and Harry Fullerton doubled. Bridgeman (6-1) made it hold up, striking out nine while giving up two hits. Irvin-Lundquist got the final five outs for his third save.
In the nightcap, the Chaps took a 2-0 lead in the third on Tommy Gillman’s solo homer and Cade Bullinger’s RBI fielder’s choice. Bullinger drove in another run in the sixth and Braden Scrivner hit a two-run homer in the ninth.
Robert Morales (1-2) took the loss for the Wranglers, giving up two runs on four hits over five innings. He struck out seven.
GAME 1
Midland……… 000 000 0 — 0 3 1
Odessa………. 010 000 x — 1 4 0
Chandler Eaton, Justin Lewis (5) and Cameron Melcher. John Bridgeman, J.J. Irvin-Lundquist (6) and Mitch Holding. W — Bridgeman (6-1). L — Eaton (3-2). L — Irvin-Lundquist (3). 2B — Midland College: Frainyer Chavez; Odessa College: Tresten Kennard, Harry Fullerton.
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GAME 2
Midland……… 002 001 002 — 5 7 3
Odessa………. 000 000 000 — 0 3 2
Aaron Weseman, Carson Bailey (7) and Cameron Melcher. Robert Morales, Eric Ogletree (6) and Mitch Holding. W — Weseman (3-0). L — Morales (1-2). Sv — Bailey (1). 2B — Odessa College: Chance Medina. HR — Midland College: Tommy Gillman (11), Braden Scrivner (1).
Records — Midland College 35-20 overall, 25-11 WJCAC; Odessa College 33-23, 23-13.
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WJCAC Standings
Overall Conference
Team W L W L
x-New Mexico JC…………. 40 15 27 9
x-Howard College………… 35 19 26 10
x-Midland College……….. 35 20 25 11
x-Odessa College……….. 33 23 23 13
Clarendon College………. 33 20 21 14
Western Texas College… 24 28 20 16
New Mexico Military Inst. 27 28 15 20
Frank Phillips College…… 18 37 13 23
El Paso Community Coll. 11 45 7 29
Luna Community College. 8 46 2 34
x-qualified for NJCAA Region V Tournament
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Friday’s games
Clarendon College 15, New Mexico Military Institute 10
New Mexico Military Institute 8, Clarendon College 7
Frank Phillips College 10, El Paso Community College 0
Frank Phillips College 14, El Paso Community College 6
Odessa College 3, Midland College 1
Odessa College 3, Midland College 2
New Mexico Junior College 9, Howard College 6
Howard College 10, New Mexico Junior College 3
Western Texas College 14, Lunna Community College 2
Western Texas College 20, Lunna Community College 12
Saturday’s games
El Paso Community College 7, Frank Phillips College 5
Frank Phillips College 12, El Paso Community College 2
Howard College 9, New Mexico Junior College 6
New Mexico Junior College 13, Howard College 3
New Mexico Military Institute 5, Clarendon College 3
Clarendon College at New Mexico Military Institute
Odessa College 1, Midland College 0
Midland College 5, Odessa College 0
Western Texas College 12, Lunna Community College 0
Western Texas College 10, Lunna Community College 3
END REGULAR SEASON
Friday, May 11-Tuesday, May 15
NJCAA Region V Tournament, Airhog Stadium, Grand Prairie
