Baseball splits with Otero

    LA JUNTA, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team earned a split of Empire Conference games on Saturday.
               The Cougars were on the wrong side of an offensive slugfest, falling 8-6. The second game was a little better for the Cougars as they hung on to a 9-6 win. The second game win helped snap a 5-game losing skid.
               The second game win was much needed for the Cougars, who started the contest with three first-inning runs and never looked back. WNCC opened up the game with a five-run fifth inning to go up 9-2.
               WNCC managed seven hits in the contest. Camilo Baldelomar went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs, a double and two stolen bases. Nelson Quintero and Jake Montoya each had a double in the contest. Quintero also scored three runs and had two stolen bases.
               Reiner Alamberry also had a nice game, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs, a run scored and two stolen bases.
               Carlos Luzon picked up the win on the mound.
               The first game was a mixed bag of emotions for the Cougar team. Otero started the game with three runs in the first inning. WNCC didn't back down, coming back to score five times in the third inning to take a 5-3 lead.
               The Cougars scored the five runs on five hits. Trevor Kreisel, Paul Singh and Baldelomar led off by loading the bases with singles. Kevin Sanford then walked to force in one run followed by run-scoring singles by Alambarry and Jake Vore.
               The lead didn't hold up as the Rattlers scored twice int he fourth to knot the game at 5-5 and then added three more in the fifth for an 8-5 lead. WNCC tried a seventh rally, but managed just one run while stranding two runners. WNCC's seventh inning rally came with two outs as Alambarry had a big double and Max Brennen came through with a single.
               Carlos Palomo took the loss on the mound. The Gering graduate went four innings, allowing seven hits, five runs, while walking two and striking out four. Palomo also gave up two home runs.
               WNCC out-hit Otero 10-9 as three Cougars finished with multiple hits. Baldelomar led the way wiht a 2-for-2 game with two walks, two runs scored. Jake Vore also went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, while Alambarry went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a double.
               WNCC and Otero will meet again Sunday in a doubleheader.

First Game
WNCC                  005 000 1 -- 6 10 2
Otero                   300 230 x -- 8 9 0
LP -- Carlos Palomo; 2B -- Reiner Alambarry, Jake Vore.

Second Game
WNCC                  300 015 0 -- 9 7 2
Otero                   010 010 4 -- 6 14 1
WP -- Carlos Luzon; 2B -- Nelson Quintero, Camilo Baldelomar, Jake Montoya.