WNCC softball splits with Luna, pounds out seven home runs

Mariah Faifer

               LAS VEGAS, N.M. -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team hit seven home runs on Sunday against Luna Community College as the Cougars managed only a split of a doubleheader.

               In the opening game, Mariah Faifer blasted two home runs and recorded five RBIs in powering the Cougars to a 14-2 win. The second game saw Jocelyn Stubbs smack two home runs in a losing cause 7-5.

               The split moved the Cougars record to 11-6 on the season.

               WNCC dominated game one as they ran out to a 6-0 lead after three innings. Megan Bourdon started the Cougars' home run parade as the sophomore led off the game with a solo home run. In the second inning, Faifer blasted a 2-run home run before Stubbs had a 2-run home run in the third inning.

               WNCC put the game away in the fourth with a three runs and then exploded for five runs in the fifth inning. Faifer collected her second home run of the game with a 2-run shot in the fifth inning.

               The Cougars slugged out 13 hits in the contest, including five home runs. Faifer paced the team with a 3-for-3 game with two home runs, two runs scored and five RBIs.

               Stubbs, Jacqui Cappuccilli and Bree Bitton all collected two hits in the game. Stubbs had two home runs, two runs scored, two RBIs and a double; Cappuccilli had a double, Bitton ahd two runs scored.

Jocelyn Stubbs

               Allie Alverson went 1-for-3 with three RBIs, while Sarah Hawryluk had two runs scored along with Bourdon.

               Ashton Hughes picked up the win in the circle. The sophomore hurler struck out five in allowing seven hits and two runs.

               The second game was a contest the Cougars should have won. WNCC jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Luna scored four times in the third inning to take a 4-3 lead. Stubbs blasted the first of her two home runs in the second with a solo shot. Bitton tied the game at 4-4 with a solo home run in the fourth inning.

               Luna, however, came back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and a single run in the fifth for a 7-4 lead. WNCC tried making a late-inning comeback as Stubbs had a solo home run, but it wasn't enough.

               WNCC managed 10 hits compared to 11 for Luna. Stubbs went 4-for-4 with two home runs and two RBIs. Bitton and Alverson each collected two hits. Alverson had a double. Bourdon also had a double in the loss.

               Amanda Jones picked up the loss, allowing 11 hits while striking out three.

               WNCC, 11-6, will next be in action Saturday when they face Otero Junior College in a Region IX game in La Junta, Colo. They will then face Colby Community College on Sunday before returning home for their first home games of the year on March 17.

First Game

WNCC                  123 35 -- 14 13 2

Luna                     000 11 -- 2 7 3

WP -- Ashton Hughes; 2B -- Jocelyn Stubbs, Jacqui Cappuccilli; HR -- Megan Bourdon, Stubbs, Mariah Faifer 2.

Second Game

WNCC                  012 100 1 -- 5 10 2

Luna                     004 210 x -- 7 11 2

LP -- Amanda Jones; 2B -- Bourdon, Allie Alverson; HR -- Stubbs 2, Bree Bitton.