Western Nebraska Community College's Bree Bitton hit two home runs and the Cougar softball team battled the snow, wind and sun in registering a doubleheader sweep of Luna Community College at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff.
Mariah Faifer delivered the game-winning hit in the seventh inning of the opening game in leading the Cougars to an 8-7 win. The second contest saw Bitton hit her second home run of the day and Megan Bourdon smack her 16th dinger of the season as the Cougars registered a 7-2 win over the Rough Riders.
The two squads will face each other in another doubleheader today [Sunday] at Volunteer Field beginning at 11 a.m. It will also be the final home game for the six sophomores. On Saturday, the Cougars didn't look sharp committing Luna to score a combined nine runs on 13 hits, but a lot of the defensive miscues can be contributed to the off and on snow showers.
Still, the Scleroderma Fundraiser and dorm parent recognition proved to be a successful one for the 20th ranked Cougars despite the climate variations throughout the afternoon that included snow flurries off and on.
"When you have climate conditions like this, it equalizes the game a little bit," WNCC coach Maria Winn Ratliff said. "I thought we had a couple balls that would have went out in left field if the wind wasn't blowing in.
"Today, we just struggled in making adjustments in game one. We went down and then we found a way to tie it up, then take the lead and then they have a bad inning and they get back in the ball game. They are a pretty good ball club. They are a team that if you give them an inch, they will take it from you and take a mile. I thought we did a nice job of playing hard for 14 innings and finding a way to come out with two victories."WNCC definitely used some late-inning magic to pull out the first game. After both teams scored two runs in the first inning, the Cougars took a 5-2 lead after two innings. Bitton started the second wth a solo home run to help ignite the team.
The Cougars went up 7-3 after four innings with two more runs in the fourth on singled by Megan Bourdon and Jacqui Cappuccilli. Luna came back with four runs on three hits in the fifth inning. The big blow was a 2-run home run followed by Shannon Garcia and a 2-run single by Ashton Martinez.
WNCC then won the game in the seventh. Aria Agle earned a 2-out walk and came around to score on a triple by Mariah Faifer to end the contest.
Ashton Hughes picked up the complete-game win. Hughes allowed seven hits while walking four. Hughes also struck out 10, including eight in three innings.
Offensively, the Cougars pounded out nine hits. Bitton led the way with a 3-for-4 game with a home run and a double, while Cappuccilli and Bourdon each collected two hits. Bourdon had a triple, walk and two runs scored, while Cappuccilli had two singles.
The second game saw Amanda Jones throw seven strong innings, allowing six hits and striking out three. Jones avoided disaster from the onslaught, allowing just one run while leaving the bases loaded. WNCC came back to take the lead in the second as Bitton hammered her second home run of the day, a 2-run shot into the win to right field. It was Bitton's ninth of the season to put the Cougars up 2-1.
WNCC added single runs in the third and sixth, and three runs in the fifth to open up a 7-2 lead.
Cappuccilli had the big hit in the fifth with a 2-run single and then Jocelyn Stubbs had a run-scoring double. In the sixth, Bourdon hammered her team-leading 16th home run, a 2-out, solo shot. Bourdon is now just one home run from tying the season home record set by Katie Groves in 2009.
Offensively, the Cougars pounded out 10 hits. Bourdon went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a home run. Stubbs also collected two hits, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI.
Sunday's contests will be the last time the six sophomores will play at home. The six sophomores are Hughes, Bourdon, Cappuccilli, Jordan Schoepflin, Amanda Saldivar and Allie Alverson. The six will also be honored during the game.
"Tomorrow [Sunday] will be the last time the sophomores will put a uniform on and play on this field," Winn-Ratliff said. "Hopefully, they will take some pride and continue with the tradition we have of playing well and winning at home. Also, hopefully, the climate will be a little better and we see some better results. We have really trying to preach shutout and better defense and tomorrow we hope to be able to do those things."
First Game
Luna 201 040 0 -- 7 7 1
WNCC 230 200 1 -- 8 10 2
WP -- Ashton Hughes; 2B -- Jordan Schoepflin, Bree Bitton; 3B -- Megan Bourdon; HR -- Bree Bitton.
Second Game
Luna 100 010 0 -- 2 6 0
WNCC (46-13) 021 031 x -- 7 10 3
WP -- Amanda Jones; 2B -- Aria Agle, Jocelyn Stubbs, Jordan Schoepflin; HR -- Megan Bourdon, Bree Bitton.
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