The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team let a win slip through its grasp Monday afternoon at Oregon Trail Park. against McCook Community College. The Cougars squandered several scoring opportunities and then allowed McCook to score three late-inning runs to grab a 3-2 decision.
WNCC coach Mike Jones said while it was a disappointing defeat, it is one that his team can learn by since it is still early in the season.
"We had scoring opportunities that we didn't capitalize on," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "I thought Carlos Palomo pitched a real good game. Then I brought in some freshmen that haven't had the experience yet. We made a few mistakes on the mound and give them some opportunities. It is all part of it. It is a learning process and we will get better."
Palomo was in control of the contest early, tossing four perfect innings before giving up the first hit of the game in the top of the fifth. The Gering graduate struck out five and allowed just one hit in five innings of work.
"He threw really good," Jones said of Palomo's sizzling performance on the mound. "He has come a long ways and he is getting better and better. It was good to see him come out and throw as well as he did."
Unfortunately for the Cougars, they let the win slip through their fingertips, but it wasn't without a strong effort in the field, which included a dramatic ninth inning that the Cougars almost got out of a bases loaded jam.
"We almost go out of it [the ninth inning without giving up a run," Jones said. "We were diving for balls on the infield and doing everything possible in trying from allowing that run to come across. There was no problem with the effort. Right now offensively, we are missing out on opportunities and we already lost two games by one run. Last season we lost 16 games by one run. There has to be better scoring opportunities that we have to be a better team to capitalize on."It was the second one-run loss of the season. On Sunday, the Cougar men fell to Colorado University 6-5 in eight innings before coming back to register a 15-5 win. On Monday, the Cougars loss stemmed from an offensive attack that managed just five hits in the contest while leaving runners stranded in scoring position four times.
WNCC struck first, scoring a single run in the fifth inning. Max Brennen had a 2-out walk and came around to score on a Paul Singh single up the middle.
The 1-0 lead held up until the seventh inning when McCook plated two runs on three hits. David DeCarlo started the Indians' rally with a lead-off double. He came around to score on a Brandon Nickolite single. McCook took the lead a couple batters later as Dakota Roehl singled in Nicholite.
WNCC tied the game at 2-2 in the eight innig as Nelson Quintero and Camilo Baldelomar had back-to-back doubles.
McCook took the lead in the ninth as Eric Montes hit a single to score Brant Hittel for the go-ahead run.
Kile Rogers picked up the loss, going just one inning and allowing three hits. Palomo and Terry McNabb got no decisions in the contest. McNabb went three innings in allowing two runs, six hits and striking out three.
WNCC managed just five hits in the contest, including three doubles. Kevin Sanford had the first double of the game when he led off the seventh with the extra bagger.
The Cougars will be back in action Friday and Saturday when they travel to face Barton Community College.
McCook (1-0) 000 000 201 -- 3 10 0
WNCC (1-2) 000 010 010 -- 2 5 1
LP -- Kile Rogers (0-1); 2B -- Kevin Sanford, Nelson Quintero, Camilo Baldelomar.
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