CARLSBAD, N.M. The Permian Panthers were three outs away from advancing in the Class 6A baseball playoffs Saturday before El Paso Socorro threw a wrench into the operation.
Socorro came back from Friday’s Game 1 loss in their bi-district series to win 5-1 and 8-6 on Saturday, scoring six runs in the seventh inning of Game 3 to end Permian’s season.
Permian (24-14) took a 5-2 lead into the final inning of the series, but Socorro (27-9) sent 10 batters to the plate and held off the Panthers’ comeback bid in the bottom half of the inning. Michael Corona, who finished 2 for 4, singled in two runs to tie it a 5-5 and Richard Gill singled in the go-ahead run.
Dorian Mendoza went 2 for 4 with three RBIs to lead the Bulldogs with Isaiah Campa finishing 3 for 4 with three doubles. Jose Enrique was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Permian’s Taylor Sullivan was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Tanner Adams also drove in two runs for the Panthers. Aleck Villa was 2 for 2 with a double and an RBI, and Caden Bedrick also drove in a run.
Manuel Rubio, Socorro’s third pitcher of the game, worked three innings in relief for the win. He allowes two runs on three hits while striking out three.
Noey Brito (4-2) took the loss, giving up three runs on two hits and a walk. Permian starter Peyton Hutson pitched 5.2 innings, giving up two runs on six hits. He struck out six.
In Game 2, Permian took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Manny Guerrero led off with a double and scored on a two-out error. Socorro responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning, getting back-to-back RBI doubles from Brandon Pimentel and Richard Gill. Pimentel, who finished 2 for 3, doubled in another run in the sixth.
Corona went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Villa was 2 for 3 with a double to lead Permian.
Campa pitched a complete game for the Bulldogs, holding Permian to one unearned run on six hits. He struck out five.
Tyler Ramage (2-3) went the distance for the Panthers, allowing five runs on eight hits.
CLASS 6A BI-DISTRICT PLAYOFF
At Carlsbad, N,M,
GAME 1
Permian……… 100 000 0 — 1 6 0
Socorro……… 400 001 x — 5 8 1
Tyler Ramage and Taylor Sullivaan. Isaiah Campa and Cesar Corral. W — Campa. L — Ramage (2-3). 2B — Permian: Keatyn Armstrong, Manny Guerrero, Aleck Villa; Socorro: Richard Gill, Manuel Rubio, Brandon Pimentel 2.
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GAME 2
Socorro……… 010 100 6 — 8 10 0
Permian……… 201 101 1 — 6 8 0
Michael Corona, Brandon Pimentel (2), Manuel Rubio (5) and Cesar Corral, Jonathon Rios (3), Mark Nunez (5), Joe Matamoros (7). Peyton Hutson, Christian LaChance (6), Noey Brito (7), Manny Guerrero (7) and Taylor Sullivan. W — Rubio. L — Brito (4-2). 2B — Socorro: Isaiah Campa 3; Permian: Aleck Villa.
Records — El Paso Socorro 27-9, Permian 24-14.
