WNCC softball claims two from Dawson Thursday

Natasha Dypchey pitches against Trinidad State earlier this season. Dypchey pitched a complete game, shutout against Dawson Community College on Thursday

Dypchey, Pexton pick up wins in the circle in 8-0, 13-6 wins

Natasha Dypchey not only shutout Dawson Community College from the circle, but she also provided plenty of offense from the plate in helping the Cougars to an 8-0 game one win against Dawson in Glendive, Mont.

WNCC finished off Dawson in game two collecting 13 runs on 16 hits for the 13-6 win to run their record to 23-12 overall, just five wins from setting a new school record for most wins in a season. The team also improved to 13-3 in Region IX play heading into this weekend’s games at home against Otero Junior College and North Platte Community College.

WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff was pleased with how her team played for not playing a game in over a week.

“It is nice to be back on the field and playing,” she said. “The first game we played pretty good and in the second game we played really well going into the sixth inning and the we lost focus and let them score five runs. But, then we came bounced back in the seventh and shut the door.”

WNCC controlled game one from the get-go, especially behind the 6-hit, 3-strikeout pitching of Dypchey.

Offensively, the Cougars were just as sharp in the cold, snowy weather in Montana, where they quickly took control with two runs in the first and one in the second for a 3-0 lead. WNCC added to the lead with two runs in the fourth on singles by Dypchey, Lauren Bourdan and a 2-RBI double by Jessica Ventoza.

WNCC added another run in the fifth and then posted two wins in the seventh on four hits. The big hits were RBI singles by Dypchey and Ashley Eichelberg.

Ventoza went 3-for-3 from the plate with three RBIs and a run scored followed by Dypchey with a 3-for-4 performance and two runs scored. Amanda Hensley also went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a RBI.

WNCC continued swinging a hot bat in game two, pounding out 16 hits. Like the first, the Cougars struck early, scoring three times in the first and four times in the third to hold a 7-1 lead after three.

The Cougars added another run in the fifth as Bourdan unleashed a solo home run to put the team up 8-1. WNCC added another four runs in the sixth inning to hold a commanding 12-1 lead.

Dawson sliced the lead in half, scoring five times in the sixth inning, but it wasn’t good enough as Pexton came back out in the seventh inning shut down the Bucs’ bats.

Pexton picked up the win going seven innings while scattering eight hits and striking out three.

Jessie McNabb paced the Cougars from the plate with a 4-for-5 performance, including three runs scored, two RBIs and two doubles. Eichelberger finished the game with a 3-for-4 performance including two runs scored, two RBIs and three singles, while Ventoza went 2-for-5 with a run scored and three stolen bases.

Winn-Ratliff said that the one area that she was extremely pleased with was the team’s baserunning, where they were 8-for-8 on the day. Ventoza finished the day with four stolen bases to pace the Cougars.

The Cougars will next be in action Saturday when they host Region IX leading Otero Junior College at 2 p.m. at Volunteer Field, followed by a home contest against North Platte Community College on Sunday.

Game 1
WNCC 210 210 2 – 8 14
Dawson 000 000 0 – 0 6
WP – Dypchey (16-5); 2B – Ventoza, Hensley.

Game 2
WNCC (23-12) 304 014 1 – 13 16
Dawson (4-22) 001 005 0 – 6 8
WP – Pexton (7-5); 2B – McNabb 2; HR – Bourdon.