WNCC softball sweeps Midland for 9th win

                MIDLAND, Texas – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team captured a doubleheader from Midland College Sunday in Midland, Texas.

                WNCC pounded out 11 hits in the first game in posting a 5-3 win. The Cougars were just as impressive in the second contest, winning 6-3 to move to 9-2 on the season.

                The Cougars finished the 3-day series of games over the weekend with a 6-1 record. WNCC will next be in action Sunday when they travel to Lamar Community College on Sunday for conference contests.

                In the opener, WNCC received a strong pitching performance from sophomore Bianca Duran. Duran went seven innings in scattering five hits and allowing three runs. Duran also struck out two.

                Offensively, WNCC took an 1-0 lead after one and then plated four in the third on five singles for a 5-0 lead.

                Three Cougars finished with multiple hits. Kayla Romey went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Duran also went 2-for-4. Mariah Shepherd finished the game with a 2-for-3 performance, including a run scored and an RBI.

                WNCC started the second game off very similar to the first contest, jumping out to a 5-0 lead after four innings. The Cougars scored a single run in the second off a single by Jennifer Cottle, who later scored for the 1-0 lead.

                The Cougars scored four times in the fourth with the big hit coming off the bat of Shepherd, who blasted a solo home run. The Cougars added a single run in the sixth as Cottle doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kasey Cash.

                Ravae Herrera picked up the win in the circle, going four innings in scattering six hits and allowing two runs. Shelby McGraw went one inning in allowing a run and striking out two. Duran got the save in tossing the sixth and seventh, allowing just one hit and striking out two.

                WNCC managed just five hits in the contest. Cottle led the way, going 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored.  The only other extra base bits were Shepherd’s home run and a double by McGraw in the seventh inning.

First Game

WNCC                   104 000 0 – 5 11 3

Midland               000 001 2 – 3 5 1

WP – Bianca Duran;  2B – Duran, Kasey Cash

Second Game

WNCC (9-2)        010 400 0 – 6 5 1

Midland               000 030 0 – 3 7 3

WP – Ravae Herrera; S – Duran; 2B – Jennifer Cottle, Shelby McGraw; HR – Mariah Shepherd.