North Central Missouri College, ranked 23rd in the latest NJCAA DII poll, put on a powerful performance on both sides of the ball Tuesday in a dominant showing against Metropolitan Community College. NCMC, with a record of 24-5, was led by explosive bats and a strong outing on the mound from starter Hikaru Mikami (5-0).
Mikami was in command throughout his appearance, tossing 78 pitches (51 for strikes) while facing 18 batters. He kept the Metropolitan lineup in check and didn't allow them to build any momentum. He allowed just 2 hits in his 5 innings of work.
The Pirates' offense wasted no time making an impact. Javier Suarez led the charge with a home run and totaled five total bases on the day, showcasing his power and ability to drive in key runs. Chase Maddox added a long ball of his own, contributing four total bases and energizing the NCMC dugout.
Extra-base hits were a theme for NCMC, with Truman Bodenhausen and Julio Guerrero each roping doubles. Guerrero also reached base via hit-by-pitch and finished the day with two total bases. The Pirates played aggressive on the basepaths too, with Rafael Calcano and Alejandro Paz each swiping a bag to keep the pressure on Metropolitan's pitchers and defense.
Small ball played a role as well, with Wilmer Jimenez and Eduardo Chourio each recording sacrifice flies, helping to keep the scoreboard active in key innings.
With this performance, North Central Missouri College continues to build momentum, combining power, patience, and precision in all facets of the game. Their next action will be a 3-game set with Region 16 foe East Central College. Those games will be on Friday (doubleheader @ 1pm) and Saturday (9-inning game @ noon) at Burleigh Grimes Field.
