WNCC softball splits with Colby

COLBY, Kan. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team received a solid pitching performance from sophomore Bianca Duran in opening the season with a 9-0 win over Colby Community College Friday afternoon in Colby, Kan.
                Unfortunately, the Cougars couldn’t get the game two win, falling to Colby 7-5. WNCC and Colby will be back in action Saturday when they have a doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m.
                In the opener, Duran allowed just three hits in posting the shut-out win. The sophomore right-handed pitcher from Westminster, Colo., struck out six and walked just three in the win.
                Offensively, the Cougars had nine hits, including four doubles. The Cougars scored single runs in the second and third innings before opening up the contest by plating seven in the fifth.
                Kasey Cash, Ravae Herrera, and Angel Council each had doubles in the inning. Cash started the scoring spree with a double that scored Jennifer Cottle and Mariah Shepherd. Later, Herrera had a run-scoring double to push the lead to 6-0. Council later had a double to score Hailee Mecham for a 7-0 lead before Duran had a single to score two runs for the final 9-0.
                Council, Duran, and Shepherd paced the Cougars with two hits each. Council went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI, while Duran went 2-for-4 with a run scored, two RBIs, and a double. Shepherd went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Herrera also had two RBIs in the contest.
                The second game saw Colby forge ahead 3-0 after two only to watch WNCC slice the lead to 3-2 in the third. Cash smacked a double to score Duran and Shepherd to get the Cougars on the scoreboard.
                Colby came back and scored twice in the fourth and twice in the sixth for a 7-3 lead. WNCC mounted a comeback in the seventh, as Duran had a lead-off home run. Cottle scored the second run off a hit by Nicole Weiss but left the tying runs on third and second.
                WNCC managed nine hits in the second game. Cash paved the way with a 3-for-4 game with two RBIs and two doubles. Shepherd also had two hits, with a double and a run scored.
                McGraw took the loss in the circle, going 3 1/3 innings in allowing four runs on seven hits. McGraw did strike out three and allowed just one walk. Herrera finished out the game, going 2 2/3 innings in allowing three runs on three hits and striking out one.          
Game One
WNCC                   011 07 – 9 9 0
Colby                     000 00 – 0 3 2
WP – Bianca Duran (1-0); 2B – Angel Council, Bianca Duran, Kasey Cash, Ravae Herrera.
Game Two
WNCC (1-1)        002 001 2 – 5 9 3
Colby                     030 202 x – 7 10 2
LP – Shelby McGraw (0-1); 2B – Cash 2, Mariah Shepherd; HR -- Duran