WNCC baseball drops two to Lamar

               LAMAR, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team grabbed an early lead against Empire Conference leading Lamar Community College Saturday on the road, but the Cougars couldn't keep the lead as the Runnin' Lopes came back to take the doubleheader 8-2 and 7-1.

               The losses drop the Cougars to 13-26 overall and 6-13 in conference play. More importantly, WNCC is now three games out of the final playoff spot, which is held by McCook. McCook dropped a doubleheader to Trinidad State while Otero swept Northeastern Junior College.

               WNCC looked sharp early on in both contests. In the first game, the Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on two hits. Vincente Rodriguez started things by earning a 2-out walk. Rodriquez came around to score on Jacob Montoya's double. Jake Peltz then singled. Montoya scored the second run for the 2-0 lead.

               Lamar came back in the bottom of the frame with three runs on two hits to take a 3-2 lead. Lamar kept excelling on offense, scoring twice int he third for a 5-2 lead and then added three more in the sixth.

               WNCC managed just one more hit the rest of the game and that was a fourth-inning single by Jake Vore.

               Carlos Palomo took the loss on the mound, going six innings in allowing eight hits and eight runs. The Gering graduate struck out six and walked three.

               The second game was a pitcher's duel for the first half of the contest as Carlos Luzon kept the Runnin' Lopes hits to a minimum. Lamar finally erupted with five runs on xx hits in the fourth inning. Lamar added two more runs in the sixth to take a 6-0 lead.

               WNCC avoided the shut out with a single run in the seventh. Montoya and Paul Singh each walked. Max Brennan then came through with a single that scored Montoya.

               Luzon took the loss, going six innings in allowing seven hits, seven runs, striking out three and walking two.

               WNCC managed seven hits in the contest. Sanford led the way with a 2-for-3 game with a double.

               WNCC and Lamar will have another doubleheader today {Sunday}.

First Game

WNCC                  020 000 0 -- 2 3 0

Lamar                   032 003 x -- 8 8 0

LP -- Carlos Palomo; 2B -- Jacob Montoya.

Second Game

WNCC                  000 000 -- 1 6 5

Lamar                   000 502 x -- 7     7             0

LP -- Carlos Luzon; 2B -- Kevin Sanford.