Rams split pair at Roswell

ROSWELL — Portales' offense made positive strides in Tuesday's baseball doubleheader, netting 19 hits as the Rams split two games at Roswell. The Rams won Game 1, 3-2, before falling in Game 2, 7-3.

"We did a better job of hitting today," Rams coach Dusty Nusser said. "We had 19 hits in the doubleheader (but) we were only able to score six runs. We weren't able to string runs together."

Portales (4-6) scored three runs in the fourth inning of Game 1, which proved to be enough to hold-off Roswell (4-6), who scored two runs of its own in the fifth inning.

Damien Belden went the distance for the Rams, allowing just two runs on five hits, while striking out four. Jordan Garcia went 2-for-4, while Joel Legarda was 1-for-4 with a double.

In Game 2, however, the Coyotes jumped on the Rams quickly. Roswell scored four runs in the first inning, before adding three in the fifth.

Roswell's AJ Palomino allowed three runs in four innings, while reliever Hunter Myers-Palma allowed three hits and no runs in three innings.

As for Portales, Nusser trotted out youngsters Jackson Swift, Chandon Neece and Trevor Whitting, who Nusser felt did a great job, but believed that the trio gave up too many walks (seven) on the night.

At the plate, Roswell's Xavier Hernandez went 2-for-3 with 4 RBIs, while Legarda had two hits for the Rams.

Portales has now lost five of six, as Nusser says that his squad has struggled to manufacture runs, as they're hitting the opposing pitcher's pitch, instead of looking for their own pitch to hit.

The Rams will open district play with a three-game series at home against Ruidoso, starting on Friday.

"It's huge for us," Nusser explained. "Working to get to it seems like it came in a hurry. Our guys will be locked in and ready to go. It'll be a fun, yet challenging, next month and a half."