WNCC softball picks up 40th win with sweep of Black Hills State

SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team captured their 40^th win of the season after taking a doubleheader from Black Hills State College Monday in Spearfish, S.D.

The Cougars rode the strong-arm pitching of Taylor Anderson in the opening game as the sophomore struck out six in leading the team to a 9-3 win. The second game saw the Cougars scored seven early runs to post the 7-4 win.

WNCC, 40-18, will now turn their attention to the Region IX tournament, which kicks off Friday through Sunday at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff.

Monday’s contests definitely were a warm-up for the regional tournament. In the opening game, The Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead as Katie Groves connected on her 15^th home run of the season, a 2-run shot in the third inning.

WNCC opened up the game in the sixth with a six-run inning behind a 3-run double by Groves and a run-scoring double by Brittany Chacon for a 9-0 lead.

The Cougars managed just six hits in the contest as Groves was the only multi-hit batter, going 2-for-3 with a home run, double, and five RBIs.

Anderson picked up the win as she went seven innings, walking one, striking out six and scattering six hits.

WNCC was just as dominate in the second game against the Yellow Jackets. The Cougars quickly went up 3-0 after the first inning on singles by Megan Bourdon, Groves, Jordan Schoepflin and Jacqui Cappuccilli. The Cougars added single runs in the next four innings to hold a 7-0 lead before Black Hills made a comeback with three runs in the fifth.

The Cougars connected on 11 hits for the game as Cappuccilli and Bourdon each went 2-for-3. Bourdon scored two runs. Groves and Chacon went 2-for-4 with each getting a RBI.

Stephanie Townsend picked up the win for the Cougars, going five innings, walking six, striking out five and scattering seven hits. Anderson pitched the final two innings by walking one and allowing one hit.

The Cougars next action will be Friday at the regional tournament. The tournament begins Friday at 1 p.m. when Trinidad State faces Dawson, followed by Lamar meeting McCook at 3 p.m., Otero facing the winner of Trindad State and Dawson at 5 p.m., and the Cougars meeting the Lamar/McCook winner at 7 p.m.

Regionals continue with four games on Saturday and the championship game slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Game One
WNCC 102 006 0 – 9 6 1
Black Hills 000 002 1 – 3 6 1
WP – Taylor Anderson; 2B – Katie Groves, Brittany Chacon; HR – Groves.

Game Two
WNCC (40-18) 311 110 0 – 7 11 0
Black Hills 000 031 0 – 4 8 4
WP – Stephanie Townsend.