Bulldogs pull away late to beat Rams

ARTESIA — Artesia pulled away over the final three innings for a 12-2 District 4-4A baseball victory over Portales on Thursday night.

The Bulldogs (9-9, 1-0 district) scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the third, then went up 5-1 with a four-run fourth. Artesia ended the game on the 10-run rule with four runs in the bottom of the sixth.

The teams were slated to face off again on Friday night in a district twin bill at Ram Field.

Artesia chased Rams starter Miguel Gomez in the fifth inning. The Bulldogs pounded out 15 hits, led by junior Davian Molina with a 3-for-3 outing, while senior Kody Watson knocked in four runs with two-run singles in the fourth and sixth.

Jay Madrid went the distance on the mound for Artesia, allowing five hits and striking out nine. Portales (8-10, 0-1) was led at the plate by sophomore Kaiden Gutierrez with a pair of hits.

Tennis — At Lovington, the Wildcats swept District 4-4A duals from PHS on Thursday, the boys posting a 9-0 sweep while the girls eked out a 5-4 win over the Lady Rams.

Sophomore Maggie Duong at No. 1 and freshman Jenna Brown at No. 2 won in singles for the PHS girls, and they teamed up to beat Lovington’s Celest Perez and Vicky Leyva 7-5, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles. The other Lady Rams win came at No. 2 doubles, with Lorena Fernandez and Kimberly Macias taking a 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 decision over Angie Rodriguez and Yareli Andrade.

Lovington won all nine boys matches in straight sets. The closest one came at No. 2 doubles, where the Wildcats Michael Hein and Alex Romeo posted a 6-2, 6-4 win over Eagan Reeder and Josh Brown.

The Rams and Lady Rams return to action on Tuesday in district team competition, with the boys traveling to Roswell Goddard and the girls returning to Lovington.

Softball — PHS is off to a struggling start in District 4-4A play. After getting blanked twice at Artesia on April 19, the Lady Rams absorbed 18-0 and 10-0 setbacks at Lovington on Tuesday.

Lady Wildcats senior Delaney Utajara tossed a three-inning no-hitter in the opener, shortened by the 15-run rule after three. Lovington (14-4, 4-0 district), which extended its winning streak to 10 games with the sweep, scored five runs in the first and 13 in the second.

Senior Alexa Bell went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored for Lovington, which collected 17 hits from 10 players. Sophomore L Hernandez was also 3-for-3 with a home rum, three runs scored and three batted in.

Game 2 was much more competitive, but the Lady Wildcats opened a 5-0 lead with two in the fifth, then ended it on the 10-run rule with five runs in the sixth. Freshman Daphne Utajara tossed a two-hitter with seven strikeouts.

In this one, Bell was 2-for-3 and again doubled and homered, scoring twice and knocking in three. Sophomore Angelina Corral added 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, two runs scored and three RBIs.

The two hits for the Lady Rams (7-8, 0-4) came on singles by junior Abby Marquez and sophomore Bailey Hinderliter.

Portales was slated for a single game at Roswell Goddard on Saturday. The Lady Rams host a 5 p.m. twin bill on Tuesday against Artesia.