WNCC softball takes three in tournament

Jacqui Cappuccilli

COLUMBUS -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team picked up three wins Saturday in the first day of the Jimmy Johns/Holiday Inn Express Classic at Columbus.
               The No. 18 Cougars earned a hard-fought 3-1 win over Southeast (Neb.) Community College before rolling over North Iowa Area Community College 11-1 and topping Southwestern Iowa Community College 5-1.
               The first game was a pitcher's duel as WNCC's Ashton Hughes picked up from the perfect game she tossed on Friday in limiting Southeast to just two hits. Hughes struck out six and walked one. The only run of the game for Southeast was a second inning home run.
               WNCC managed just two hits in the contest as well. WNCC scored once in the second as Jordan Schoepflin scored on a Aria Agle single. WNCC won the game in the sixth with two runs as Jacqui Cappuccilli blasted a 2-run home run to left field.
               Cappuccilli continued her torrid hitting in the game against North Iowa, blasting her second home run of the day -- a 2-run shot in the third inning after Megan Bourdon doubled.
               WNCC managed 11 hits in the win against North Iowa with three players recording multiple hits. Sarah Hawryluk went 2-for-2 with three runs scored, a RBI and two stolen bases; while Schoepflin went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a double and a run scored. Hughes also went 2-for-3 with a RBI and stolen base.
               Amanda Jones picked up the win in the circle, going five innings and allowing just four hits, one run, walking two and striking out four.
               WNCC finished off the first day of the tournament with an impressive win over Southwestern Iowa as Hughes had another solid outing in the circle. Hughes tossed a complete game two-hitter in striking out eight.
               Offensively, WNCC managed eight hits all of which were singles. Schoepflin had the big stick for the Cougars, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Bourdon and Allie Alverson also delivered RBI singles. Bourdon also had two stolen bases while Alverson had one.
               WNCC, 31-8, will be back in action Sunday when face Iowa Western Community College and Kirkwood Community College. Kirkwood is ranked No. 14 in the NJCAA Division II polls.

First Game
WNCC                  010 002 0 -- 3 2 1
SE Nebraska        010 000 0 -- 1 2 0
WP -- Ashton Hughes; HR -- Jacqui Cappuccilli.

Second Game
WNCC                  323 03 -- 11 11 1
NIACC                  100 00 -- 1 4 2
WP -- Amanda Jones; 2B -- Megan Bourdon, Jordan Schoepflin; HR -- Cappuccilli.

Third Game
WNCC (31-8)      120 011 0 -- 5 8 0
SW Iowa              000 000 1 -- 1 2 2
WP -- Hughes.