Cougar softball team sweeps Colby behind three home runs by Shepherd

Mariah Shepherd

               COLBY, Kan. – Mariah Shepherd hit three home runs and Bianca Duran picked up two wins in the circle as the Western Nebraska Community College softball team registered a doubleheader sweep over Colby Community College on Saturday in Colby, Kan.

               In the opener, the sophomore from Westminster, Colo., struck out 11 and allowed seven hits in leading the Cougars to the 8-1 win. The second game, Duran came on in relief and pitched the final 2 2/3 innings in getting the 9-7 win.

               In both contests, the Cougars offense was lively, pounding out a combined 24 hits, including Shepherd’s three home runs to push the Cougars to 3-1 on the season.

               The first game was all WNCC from the start. Shepherd got things going with a 3-run shot in the first inning. The Cougars pushed that to 5-1 after two innings. WNCC didn’t score again until the sixth with three runs on three hits.

               WNCC had three players record multiple hits. Shelby McGraw went 2-for-2 , while Kayla Romey went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen Base. Lindsey Shiels-Brophy also finished with a 2-for-4 game.

               The second game was a battle where the Cougars came from behind to capture the win. WNCC scored three times in the first. Duran started the explosive hitting with a double and scored on a Jennifer Cottle single. Shepherd then hit a 2-run home run for the 3-0 lead.

               The Cougars went up 6-1 with three runs in the fifth on three hits, including run-scoring doubles by Shepherd and Kasey Cash.

               Colby came back to tie the game at 7-7 before the Cougars won the game in the seventh. Shepherd started things with a lead-off home run. Shiels-Brophy then doubled followed by a single by Nicole Weiss. Shiels-Brophy scored an insurance run by stealing home for the 9-7 win.

               The Cougars pounded out 14 hits in the contest. Shepherd had three hits, two home runs and a double. Shepherd also had four RBIs and three runs scored.

               WNCC, 3-1, will be back in action next weekend when they compete in the Midland, Texas, Tournament Friday through Sunday.

First Game

WNCC                  320 003 0 – 8 10 1

Colby                    100 000 0 – 1 7 5

WP – Bianca Duran (2-0); HR – Shepherd.

Second Game

WNCC                  300 031 2 – 9 14 2

Colby                    001 042 x – 7 12 0

WP – Duran (3-0); 2B – Duran, Shepherd, Jennifer Cottle, Kasey Cash, Lindsey Shiels-Brophy; HR – Shepherd 2.