The Western Nebraska Community College softball team received outstanding pitching performances from Ashton Hughes and Amanda Jones in registering a doubleheader sweep over Trinidad State Junior College.
Hughes struck out nine and tossed a 2-hitter in leading the Cougars to a 6-0 win in the opener. Jones followed Hughes outstanding game one performance with a sizzling performance of her own, tossing the final 5 2/3 and eliminating the Trojans to just one hit in that span for a 3-2 victory.
The wins pushes the Cougars back on top of the Region IX standings at 13-3 while Trinidad falls to 8-4 in conference play. WNCC's contests scheduled for today [Sunday] against Otero Junior College have been postponed to a later date because of the threat of rain. Trinidad travels to McCook today [Sunday].
WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said was pleased with how her team battled between two of the elite teams in the conference this year. "Game one was a pitchers dual. I thought Randolph threw really well and Ashton threw really well," she said. "Ashton gave up two hits and Randolph four or five. It seemed like that sixth inning when we had that lead-off home run, things started to happen for us. Game two we felt like Ashton's pitch count was low and she contained them really well in game one so we went with her in a DP role. She came out and did what she had to do, but we made some mistakes and spotted them two runs. But we battled and worked hard and got to their bull pen. Amanda Jones came in for us and did her job.
"I was real proud of the way they played. Hopefully we are getting over the hump and playing better. I think losing to McCook was an eye-opening experience for us. Anybody in this league can win any game and if you don't show up and play, you are going to get beat. I have been saying that all year. I don't think there is a team that will run away with it. I think at the regional tournament, it will come down to the last out of the championship game to see who goes to the national tournament."
Both contests were definitely pitcher's duals. In the opener, Hughes and Trinidad's Jordyn Randolph went toe-to-toe from the circle. Randolph had a no-hitter going through four innings before Mariah Faifer had the first hit for the Cougars to lead off the fifth.
Hughes was also throwing a gem from the circle. The sophomore from Regina, Saskatchewan, allowed just two hits while striking out nine Trojans. Hughes even battled out of a bases loaded threat in the second by striking out the final two batters.
Neither team had much offense because of the superb pitching from the team's aces. WNCC finally broke the ice in the sixth inning and they did it with a bang. Jacqui Cappuccilli started the rally with a lead-off home run over the center field fence for the first run of the game.
After that, WNCC continued applying the pressure as Jordan Schoepflin walked and then Jocelyn Stubbs reached base via an error. Amanda Saldivar then scored on a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead. Aria Agle then blasted a 2-run home run over center field for a 4-0 lead.
WNCC wasn't through as Mariah Faifer walked followed by single by Allie Alverson. Then, with two outs, Sarah Hawryluk scored both runners with a double down the third base line for the 6-0 lead.
Trinidad's only hits came in the second from the bat of Jackie Sanzilone and then in the sixth from Jacqueline Booz.
WNCC had three players record extra base hits. Agle went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, Cappuccilli wnet 1-for-3 with a home run, RBI and a walk, and Hawryluk went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
The second game was even more intense. Trinidad opened the contest by scoring two runs on three hits in the first inning. The Cougars sliced the lead to 2-1 wiht a single run in the second inning. Agle started things with a 2-out single. Ashton Hughes then walked before Allie Alverson had a run-scoring single cut the deficit in half.
The Cougars tied the game in the third, again with two outs. Jordan Schoepflin started things with the 2-out single and scored from first base on a double by Jocelyn Stubbs down the third base line.
Things stayed tied until the fifth inning when the Cougars took the lead. Schoepflin lead off after getting a walk and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and a passed ball. Alverson then delivered another clutch hit that scored Schoepflin with the go-ahead run.
The biggest play, though, that changed the complexion of the game came in the second inning. Trinidad was threatening with runners at third and second with one out. That was when Cougar short stop Cappuccilli went to her right and made a diving snag of a line drive to thwart a base hit and the possibility of Trinidad scoring two runs.
That was all WNCC needed as Jones kept the Trojans at bay to big up the win in relieve of starting pitcher Hughes. Hughes went 1 1/3 inning in allowing four hits, two runs and giving up two free passes. Jones finished the game allowing just one hit in facing 21 batters, striking out two and walking three.
Alverson paced the Cougars by going 2-for-3 with two singles and two RBIs. Schoeflin also came up big wiht a 1-for-3 game with a walk and two runs scored.
Winn-Ratliff said the defense played well in both games.
"Our defense really stepped up," she said. "They had runners at second and third and Cappuccilli makes a diving catch in the hole. it seemed like they had chances to score in a lot of innings and we found ways to get out of them when we needed to. i was just real proud of the girls. We know have a little momentum on our sides. We just have to hope we continue playing hard and get good pitching."
WNCC, 36-11 and 13-3 in conference play, will return to action Thursday when they travel to face Black Hills State in Spearfish, S.D.
First Game
Trinidad 000 000 0 -- 0 2 2
WNCC 000 006 x -- 6 5 0
WP -- Ashton Hughes, LP Jordyn Randolph. 2B -- WNCC (Sarah Hawryluk); HR -- WNCC (Jacqui Cappuccilli, Aria Agle).
Second Game
Trinidad 200 000 0 -- 2 5 0
WNCC 011 010 x -- 3 5 1
WP -- Amanda Jones, LP -- Lauren Usry; 2B -- WNCC (Jocelyn Stubbs).
Conference Standings
Team Conf Overall
WNCC 13-3 36-11
Trinidad 8-4 20-15
Otero 10-6 23-19
Lamar 4-8 14-18
McCook 6-10 12-15
Dawson 1-11 2-12
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