The Iola Hormigas won their first Pecos League series of the season in dramatic fashion after a walk-off, bases-load walk in extra innings to secure a 7-6 victory over the Blackwell Flycatchers Wednesday night.
After splitting their recent series, and improving their record to 3-12, Iola Manager Derick Dominguez said the Hormigas could get back in the wildcard playoff hunt with wins in Friday’s road doubleheader against the North Platte 80s, as well as a few wins when the Trinidad Triggers and the Sante Fe Fuego come to town next week.
“We knew we could beat Blackwell, and we prepared for them,” Dominguez said. “Our pitching really showed up and our defense backed them up.”
A pair of RBIs by shortstop Oscar Galvez and a homer by outfielder Zackary Trangmar help put the Hormigas ahead 6-0 by the the fourth inning. A pair of Blackwell runs in the ninth inning sent the game into extra innings, where it remained until culminating in the 11th as Galvez crossed home plate. Catcher Nicholas Chavez had a team-leading three hits, followed by Galvez, second baseman Alejandro Herrera and third baseman Julio Zamora, who had two each.
“Earlier in the series, we weren’t really patient,” Dominguez said. “We were swinging when they were too low in the dirt and falling behind in the count. Today, we saw better pitches — something we could drive and it worked out.”
Although Iola’s bats went quiet after the third inning, the Hormigas benefited from strong defense with multiple double plays and 12 strikeouts from starter Colin Sepulveda, reliever Jacob Slocomb and closer Xander Nabors. Sepulveda picked up the win while tying Slocumb for the team-leading in strikeouts with five each. Nabors tallied a pair of strikeouts while handing closing duties in extra innings.
“[Nabors] really struggled the first time he was out there,” Dominguez said. “He really wanted it for today. It was a great one for him and good for the team.”
Following Friday’s road games, and a stop at Satchel Paige Stadium in Kansas City, the Hormigas return to Iola for a 6 p.m. game against the Triggers Monday and wrap up next week’s homestand with a 6 p.m. Wednesday game against the Santa Fe Fuego.
