Monday, September 12, 2011

WNCC softball team goes 2-1 at Adams State, prepare for home fall Classic this weekend


                ALAMOSA, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team opened the fall season with a 2-1 record at the Adams State Invite in Alamosa, Colo., on Saturday. The competition was a good tune up for this weekend’s WNCC Fall Cougar Classic on Saturday and Sunday at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff.
                In the Adams State Invite, WNCC threw three different pitchers in the contests. The Cougars defeated Luna Community College 16-6 behind Aria Agle performance in the circle and topped Adams State 10-3 behind the strong-armed throwing of freshman Bianca Duran. The Cougars only defeat came to New Mexico Highlands 7-5 as Amanda Jones was the hard-luck pitcher.
                Against Luna, the Cougars pounded out 19 hits, including six doubles. Sarah Hawryluk paced the team with a 3-for-3 performance as she scored three times, while Danielle Hearn went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Also collecting three hits was Mariah Shepherd with a 3-for-4 game with three RBIs and a double.
                Collecting two hits each for the Cougars were Duran and Brandi Percival. Duran went 2-for-4 with a run scored, RBI and a double.
                Agle, a sophomore, went five innings in allowing seven hits, six runs, walking four and striking out six.
                In the win against Adams State, the Cougars scored four times in the sixth inning to open up a tight contest for the victory. WNCC pounded out 10 hits in the win as Hearn led the way with a 4-for-5 contest with two runs scored and a double.
                Duran was the only other Cougar collect multiple hits with two. Duran also had a double and run scored. Sasha Duran-Fong had the only other extra base hit with a triple in the third that scored three runs.
                Duran picked up the win by shutting down the Adams State hitters, going seven innings in allowing just five hits and three runs. Duran struck out one and walked one.
                In the lone loss over the weekend, WNCC held a 5-0 lead through three innings before allowing New Mexico Highlands score three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings, and a single run in the fourth for the victory. WNCC scored all five runs in the second inning on two outs as they got singles by Duran and Haley Paxton.
                Duran led the way for the Cougars from the plate with a 3-for-4 game with a RBI. Not other player had more than a single in the game.
                Jones suffered the loss in going 5 2/3 innings in allowing seven hits, seven runs, and walking three and striking out three.
                The three games are a good warm up for this weekend’s Cougar Fall Classic that begins Saturday and Sunday that brings five different colleges to the area. Competing teams include WNCC, Northeastern Junior College, Chadron State, North Platte Community College, Air Force Academy, and the University of Wyoming.
                WNCC will play two games Saturday at 9:30 a.m. against Northeastern Junior College and 8 p.m. against the University of Wyoming. The Cougars’ contests on Sunday include an 8 a.m. match up with Air Force and then a 4:45 game with Chadron State.

Complete Fall Cougar Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 17
9:30 – Northeastern JC and WNCC, 11:15 a.m. – Chadron State and Northeastern Colorado, 1 p.m. – North Platte and Chadron State, 2:45 p.m. – Wyoming and North Platte, 4:30 p.m. – Air Force and Wyoming, 6:15 p.m. – North Platte and Air Force, and 8 p.m. – WNCC and Wyoming.
Sunday, Sept. 18
8 a.m. – Air Force and WNCC, 9:45 a.m. – Chadron State and Air Force, 11:30 a.m. – Wyoming and Chadron State, 1:15 p.m. – Air Force and Northeastern Colorado, 3 p.m. – Northeastern Colorado and Wyoming; and 4:45 p.m. – WNCC and Chadron State.

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