WNCC softball takes down North Platte

 The Western Nebraska Community College softball team earned a doubleheader sweep over North Platte Community College on Thursday in North Platte.

After escaping with a 1-0 win in the first game, the Cougars received home runs from Jocelyn Stubbs, Mariah Shepherd and Bianca Duran in a 14-2 win in game two.

The wins improved WNCC to 23-15 on the season. WNCC has won five straight.

In the second game, the Cougars totaled 10 hits. Four of those were extra-base hits.

Leading 1-0 after one, WNCC plated three runs in the second to go up 4-0. Brandi Percival doubled, Aria Agle singled and Danielle Hearn walked to load the bases. Kimmie Widick knocked in one with a ground ball before Sarah Hawryluk and Kasey Cash plated runs on fielder’s choices.

The Cougars went up 7-1 in the third. Shepherd reached base on an error and scored on Stubbs’ two-run home run. Amanda Jones later scored on a Widick single.

WNCC added a single run in the fourth on a Shepherd home run before exploding for six runs in the seventh on four hits. The big hit of the inning was a three-run homer off the bat of Duran.

Amanda Jones picked up the pitching win in the circle. She allowed 10 hits and struck out six in seven innings.
Widick and Hawryluk led the Cougar offensive attack with two hits each. Hawryluk went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases, while Widick went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. The Cougars finished the game with eight stolen bases. Kayla Romey had two steals.

In the opening win, Duran proved solid in the circle in prevailing in the 1-0 pitcher’s duel. Duran allowed just three hits and struck out eight. She carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

The only run of the game was scored by WNCC in the sixth. After a two-out single by Stubbs, Cash doubled in pinch runner Shalese Connary.

WNCC finished with seven hits. Cash and Hawryluk led the way with two hits each. Hawryluk had two singles and three stolen bases, while Cash had a double.

The Cougars will be in out-of-conference action today and Saturday when they play in the Butler Tournament in El Dorado, Kan.

Game 1
WNCC  000 001 0 – 1 7 1
North Platte 000 000 0 – 0 3 0
WP – Bianca Duran; 2B – Kasey Cash.

Game Two
WNCC  133 100 6 – 14 10 0
WP – Amanda Jones; 2B Brandi Percival; HR – Jocelyn Stubbs, Mariah Shepherd, Bianca Duran.