WNCC softball falls in opening round, second contest postponed because of rain

                  ST. GEORGE, Utah – Salt Lake Community College’s Ariel Zimmerman fanned a tournament high 16 Western Nebraska Community College batters as the Cougars fell in their opening round contest 5-1 against the Bruins Thursday in the first day of the NJCAA national tournament in St. George, Utah.

                WNCC’s elimination contest with Central Alabama Community College was halted because pf rain after two innings with the Trojans ahead 2-1. The contest will resume Friday morning at 9 a.m. with the winner advancing into another must-win contest at 1 p.m.

                “We did struggle at the plate in the first game. Their pitcher threw really well and we didn’t make adjustments at the right time,” freshman Mariah Faifer said. “We didn’t hit to our full potential and we didn’t hit like we usually do and that would have made a difference between a win and a loss.”

                The Cougars know have their backs against the wall where they know that one loss and their season is over. The Cougars could have four games on Friday if they win the early morning contest against Central Alabama. Faifer said there is no room for error.

                “I think knowing that a loss ends our season will motivate us because everyone here wants to start a new tradition,” she said. “We want to win and play how we expect because we want to keep moving forward.

The opener was all Zimmerman, who controlled the Cougar bats in tossing a one-hitter. WNCC, however, had their chances to plate runs, but couldn’t get the clutch hit when needed.

                Zimmerman, in the meantime, placed her name in NJCAA tournament history. Her 16 strikeouts were the second-highest total in NJCAA tournament history, one shy of the 17 punch outs set by Lauren Eckermann of Temple JC in 2006.

Salt Lake got all the offense it needed in the first two innings as the Bruins tallied a single run in the first and three more in the second, with the big blow coming off a two-run single by shortstop Krystin Jachim.

WNCC finally cracked the scoreboard with a single run in the fourth. Jacqui Cappuccilli reached base after being hit by a pitch. Jordan Schoepflin followed after reaching base on a hard hit to the second baseman. Cappcuccilli then stole home on a double steal for the only run of the contest.

The Cougars also had a prime scoring opportunity in the fifth as Aria Agle and Amanda Saldivar were walked with just one out. But, both runners were stranded

Mariah Faifer had the only hit of the contest with a single in the third inning. Salt Lake managed eight hits on the day, six of which came in the first two innings where the Bruins did their damage.

WNCC starter Ashton Hughes pitched well in a losing effort, allowing three earned runs (five total) on eight hits with five strikeouts Trojans each have three hits in the contest.

Against Central Alabama, the Cougars fell behind 2-1 after two innings before the game was stopped because of wet fields. Faifer said they need to come out and get their offense going and not leave runners on base. In the CACC contest, the Cougars have already stranded five runners.

“We need to figure out what will work for us and what will benefit us to win,” she said. “The only way to win is by scoring.”

WNCC (51-14)    000 100 0 -- 1 1 2

Salt Lake              130 001 x -- 5 8 1
WP – Ariel Zimmerman; LP – Ashton Hughes.

First Round Tournament scores

Yavapai College 3, Pitt C.C. 1

McLennan 6, Iowa Western 2

Tallahassee 3, Butler 2 (8 innings)

Miami Dade 7, Darton 5

Lake Land 6, Blinn 2

Northeast Oklahoma 13, Volunteer State 2

Howard 6, Central Alabama 2

Salt Lake 5, WNCC 1

Today’s games

9 a.m.

Pitt vs. Iowa Western

Butler vs. Darton

Blinn vs. Volunteer State

WNCC vs. Central Alabama

11 a.m.

Yavapia vs. McLennan

Tallahasse vs. Miami Dade

Lake Land vs. NE Oklahoma

Howard vs. Salt Lake