WNCC softball picks up 40th wins of season with sweep over Garden City on April 28

                The Western Nebraska Community College softball team picked up their 40th win of the season by shutting out Garden City Community College in a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Volunteer Field.

                Aria Agle slammed a grand slam in game one in leading the Cougars to an 7-0 win. The second contest saw Amanda Jones toss a 3-hitter in leading the Cougars to the 10-0 win. Saturday's contest was also played as fundraiser for the Scleroderma Foundation, where the jersey auction brought in $1,795 for the Foundation.

                The two teams will be back in action Sunday for another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. It will be the final home and regular season games for the six sophomores.
                Agle, who connected on her second grand slam of the season, said the team played well as a unit.

                "I think we played really well. We saw the ball, hit the ball. and played defense. When we didn't make a play we picked each other up on the next play. I thought we played really well as a team," the sophomore from Mapleton, Utah, said. "Our pitchers have done really well lately and we are backing them up with hits and that is really important. It gives them confidence."
                The two wins were definitely team wins with how WNCC played in the doubleheader. The Cougars combined for 17 runs on 16 hits, including three home runs and a triple. The Cougars have now won 11 straight games.

                "This is a perfect time to peak with regionals coming up," Agle said. "We are able to string things together and they say hitting is contagious so we are making that true."

                WNCC flexed its offensive muscles late in the game. The Cougars led 1-0 after two innings after Agle doubled in Kasey Cash.

                Cash came back in the fourth inning with s lead-off home run to center field for the 2-0 lead.

                WNCC opened up the game in the fifth as Agle smashed her second grand slam of the season, scoring Cash, Duran and Shalese Connary for the 6-0 lead.

                Agle said she was patient and found her pitch to hit.

                "I was just looking for something in my zone," she said. "I saw it and I just swung hoping it was a line drive and it just so happens it went out. I am not a home run hitter, but apparently I like to hit in clutch situations."

                The final run came after Sarah Hawryluk singled, stole second and then scored on a passed ball.

                Agle was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, going 3-for-3 with a double, home run, four RBIs and a run scored. Cash also scored three times in her 1-for-1 day, including two walks.

                BIanca Duran picked up the win in the circle, going seven innings in scattering six hits, striking out two and walking just one.

                The Cougars continued their hot hitting in the second game, ripping seven hits. It didn't take long for the Cougars to set the tone, scoring five runs in the first inning and three in the second to grab an 8-0 lead.

                The big, first-inning hit came from Gabi Palaxios, who had a 3-run triple. The second inning saw the Cougars score all their runs with two outs as Mariah Shepherd doubled to score two runs and then Cash singled to score another run.

                WNCC added its final two runs in the fourth as Bianca Duran lead off with a single followed by Jocelyn Stubbs ripping a 2-run home run over centerfield.

                Shepherd and Cash led the team at the plate, both going 2-for-3. Shepherd had two runs scored, two RBIs and a double, while Cash had three RBIs and a run scored.

                Jones tossed another strong game, going five innings in allowing just three hits, walking one and striking out three.

                Agle said today's final regular season contests and the six sophomores final home game, will have lasting memories. She is hoping to cap off her Cougar career on a positive note.

                "I want to finish on a high note and I want to make some memories with my teammates," she said. "We had a lot of good years together and I think tomorrow will be really meaningful for us and I hope we put it all on the field."

First Game

Garden CIty        000 000 0 -- 0 6 2

WNCC                   010 141 x -- 7 9 1

WP -- Bianca Duran; 2B -- Aria Agle; HR -- Agle, Kasey Cash.

Second Game

Garden City        000 00 -- 0 3 1

WNCC (40-24)    530 2x -- 10 7 1

WP -- Amanda Jones; 2B -- Mariah Shepherd; 3B -- Gabi Shepherd; HR -- Jocelyn Stubbs.