WNCC falls to Wallace State 4-1 in first round of national tournament

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team will have to earn a national championship the hard way after dropping their opening round game to Wallace State Community College Thursday at the NJCAA national tournament in Plant City, Fla.

The Cougars, despite making a late-game run, fell to the Lady Lions 4-1. WNCC, 54-9, drops to the loser’s bracket and an elimination game against either San Jacinto College-South or Tallahassee Community College at 4 p.m. today in an elimination game in the double elimination tournament.

WNCC fought hard in the game, but couldn’t string together enough back-to-back hits. Wallace State, in the mean time, took advantage of a 4-run third inning to claim the victory. The Lady Lions scored their four runs in the third inning on four hits, one error and three walks to bolt to a 4-0 lead.

The Cougars, fought back in the sixth and seventh inning, getting to winning pitcher Jennifer Sexton. In the sixth, Mandy Pounds led off by drawing a walk. After Lauren Mills sacrificed Pounds, the speedy freshman scored on a Jessie McNabb double. Lauren Bourdon followed by stroking a single to centerfield, only to have McNabb tagged out at the plate to end the inning.

WNCC put together a run in the seventh. With one out, Kara Ryman singled followed by Alec Voci reaching base on a fielder’s choice to put runners at first and second. That was it as Sexton struck out the final two batters to end the game.

Sexton, a sophomore from Harvest, Ala., struck out 10 Cougar batters, while scattering five hits.

Kelsey Garner took the loss in the circle. The freshman scattered eight hits, while walking five and striking out four.

WNCC (54-9) 000 001 0 – 1 5 1
Wallace (65-8) 004 000 x – 4 8 0
WP – Sexton, LP – Garner; 2B – WNCC (McNabb), Wallace (Ashley Smith).