Tuesday, March 16, 2010

WNCC's Luzon throws 8 strong innings, Cougars pick up 8-2 win.

Submitted by Jeremy Woznick of the Star-Herald

PHOENIX - Carlos Luzon worked eight strong innings to help the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team get its spring break road trip off to a strong start in an 8-2 win over South Mountain Community College Tuesday afternoon in Phoenix.

Luzon, a freshman from Caracas, Venezuela, allowed just two runs on four hits in his eight innings on the mound. He also struck out three in recording his first win in a Cougar uniform.

"He was outstanding," WNCC coach Mike Jones said of Luzon. "It was the best start of the season for him and it was one of the best starts we've had so far this season. He threw his changeup a lot for strikes and kept them off balanced. It was really nice for him to go out there and pitch a strong eight innings for us. It was impressive."

JC Morales pitched a scoreless ninth inning for WNCC in relief of Luzon.

The lone two runs Luzon allowed came in the bottom of the fourth, which helped South Mountain trim WNCC's lead to 3-2. However, the Cougars scored single runs in the fifth and eighth innings before plating three insurance runs in the ninth.

Scottsbluff High School graduate Trace Marsden singled home a pair of runs in the top of the ninth.

Offensively in the game for WNCC, Camilo Baldelomar went 2-for-3. He drove in two runs and scored two runs. Elvis Garcia had a double and Shane Wade also collected a hit.

WNCC improved to 5-15 with the win. The Cougars have now won four of their last six games.

WNCC split a pair of conference doubleheaders at Lamar Community College and at Otero Junior College last weekend. On Saturday, the Cougars topped the Lopes 7-3 before falling 9-2. Then, on Sunday, they split with Otero winning 3-2 before falling 1-0.

"We've been playing better this last week," Jones said. "We still are trying to find some more offense. It's always a work in progress. As long as we keep pitching and keep playing good defense, we're going to be in a lot of games."

WNCC will be back in action today against Phoenix College. The squads will play a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

Jones said Carlos Palomo and Sidney Jones will get the starts on the mound for the Cougars.

WNCC (5-15) 001 210 103 - 8 5 0
South Mountain 000 200 000 - 2 5 1
WP - Carlos Luzon (1-1).
2B - Camilo Baldelomar, Elvis Garcia.

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