WNCC softball sweeps North Platte

Megan Bourdon

                NORTH PLATTE -- The No. 18 Western Nebraska Community College softball team captured its 14^th straight victory and 25^th win of the season with a sweep over North Platte Community College Thursday afternoon in North Platte.

                Ashton Hughes delivered another spectacular performance in the circle, delivering a 4-hit shutout as the Cougars captured the first game 8-0. The second game saw the Cougars go on an offensive hit parade with three home runs in registering a 16-2 victory.

                Hughes struck out 11 in the first game as the sophomore right-hander had her second straight shutout. It was the second straight game where Hughes had 10 or more strike outs, having struck out 10 McCook batters on Wednesday.

                The Cougars held just a 2-0 lead through four innings before igniting with a four-run fifth inning to take a 6-0 lead. The big shot in the fifth was a 3-run home run by Jocelyn Stubbs, her 13^th of the year. WNCC added two more in the sixth to go up 8-0.

                Stubbs paced the team with a 1-for-3 game with a home run and three RBIs. Allie Alverson went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored while Megan Bourdon went 2-for-2 with a home run and a RBI. Bourdon’s solo home run came in the fourth inning.

                WNCC continued its hitting going in the second game, pounding out 12 hits and grabbing a 6-0 lead after one inning. The Cougars added two more runs each in the second and third inning. The big hit in the second was a solo home run from Mariah Faifer, her fifth of the year.

                Bourdon had the big hit in the third inning as she ripped a 2-run single.

                The fourth inning saw the Cougars plate six runs, including two home runs. Jordan Schoepflin delivered the first big shot, a 3-run home run. Ashton Hughes followed Schoepflin home run with a solo shot of her own to help the Cougars go up 16-0.

                Amanda Jones picked up the win, gong three innings and giving up two hits – back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning. Jones also struck out four. Sarah Ward-Hadden tossed the final two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two.

                Offensively, a number of players finished with multiple hits. Sarah Hawryluk went 3-for-4 with three singles, two runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases. Schoepflin, Faifer and Alverson all collected two hits. Schoepflin had a home run and three RBIs, while Faifer had a home run, three runs scored and two RBIs. Alverson had two singles, two runs scored and a stolen base.

                The win improved the Cougars record to 25-6, which is the fifth straight season that they have posted 25 or more wins.

                The Cougars will next be in action Saturday when they travel to face Lamar Community College in a Region IX doubleheader. They will then face Seward County Community College on Sunday in Liberal, Kan.

First Game

WNCC                   010 142 – 8 7 0

North Platte       000 000 – 0 4 4

WP – Ashton Hughes; 2B – Allie Alverson; HR – Joclyn Stubbs, Megan Bourdon.

Second Game

WNCC (25-6)      622 60 – 16 12 1

North Platte       000 20 – 2 3 3

WP – Amanda Jones; HR – Jordan Schoepflin, Ashton Hughes, Mariah Faifer.