WNCC softball splits doubleheader

Mariah Faifer, freshman from Albuquerque, N.M.

               GARDEN CITY, Kan. -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team belted four home runs, two from freshman Mariah Faifer, in earning a split of a doubleheader against Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kan.

               Faifer and Megan Bourdon had back-to-back home runs in the first game, and Jacqui Cappuccilli belted a seventh inning, 2-run home run to lift the Cougars to a 6-5 win. The second game saw the Broncbusters score five times in the fifth inning in posting a 6-2 win.

               In the season opener for the Cougars, WNCC went ahead 4-0 in the third inning as Bourdon and Faifer each connected on solo home runs. Garden City came back, taking a 5-4 lead through five innings before Cappuccilli provided the game-winning hit, a 2-run shot that also scored Jocelyn Stubbs.

               Ashton Hughes collected the win in the circle, tossing a complete game six-hitter while striking out seven and walking three.

               Aria Agle paced the Cougars from the plate with a 3-for-4 game, including a double and two RBIs. Stubbs finished the contest going 1-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and two walks.

               WNCC started off the second game well, bolting to a 2-0 lead after three innings. Faifer blasted her second home run of the season with a solo shot in the first inning. The Cougars scored the second run in the third as Bourdon doubled and scored on a RBI single by Faifer.

               The Broncbusters came back in the fourth inning with a single run and then plated five runs in the fifth for the 6-2 win.

               Amanda Jones took the loss in the circle, going 4 1/3 innings in allowing six hits. Sarah Ward-Hadden finished off the game, going 1 2/3 innings allowing just four hits.

               WNCC managed just six hits in the contest, compared to 10 for Garden CIty. Faifer paced the team with a 2-for-4 performance with two RBIs. Bourdon added the only other extra base hit with a double.

               WNCC, 1-1, will be back in action Sunday when they face Frank Phillips College in Garden CIty, Kan.

Game One

WNCC                  013 000 2 -- 6 8 2

Garden CIty         003 020 0 -- 5 6 2

WP -- Ashton Hughes (1-0); 2B -- Jocelyn Stubbs, Aria Agle; HR -- Megan Bourdon, Mariah Faifer, Jacqui Cappuccilli.

Game Two

WNCC (1-1)         101 000 0 -- 2 6 6

Garden City         000 150 x -- 6 10 0

LP -- Amanda Jones (0-1); 2B -- Bourdon; HR -- Faifer.