Duran throws no-hitter, Cash cashes in on four home runs in sweep over Lamar

  LAMAR, Colo. -- BIanca Duran tossed a no-hitter and the Western Nebraska Community College softball team had two shut-outs against Lamar Community College to open conference play Friday afternoon.
               In the opener, Duran tossed a no-hitter through five innings as the Cougars won 10-0 behind two home runs by Kasey Cash. Duran, who finished with two strikeouts, was one walk from a perfect game.
               WNCC was just as impressive in game two as Shelby McGraw allowed four hits and Cash blasted another two home runs in the 8-0 win. Cash finished with four home runs on the day.
               "Overall, we worked very well as a team that helped us get two wins like that," Duran, the sophomore from Westminster, Colo., said. "No one got down on themselves. We just really played well as team and we all showed up."
               Duran said that her no-hitter was made possible by the defense behind her. Duran finished the contest striking out two. Lamar's only base runner came in the second via a walk. Other than that, Duran never allowed a ball out of the infield.
               "Going into our first conference games, it was good to come out with two shutouts by both me and Shelby," Duran said. "I thought we both threw really well and definitely our defense really helped. With me getting a no-hitter, my middles and corners backed me up. It wasn't just my pitching, all the way around we did a good job."
               Cash was the offensive hero on the day. The sophomore from Wellington, Colo., blasted four home runs (two in each game) and finished with five RBIs. On the day the Cougars combined for seven home runs and eight doubles.
               Duran said they were on offensively.
               "We saw three different pitchers today and we all were able to adjust really well," she said. "We just hit a lot of line drives and we were really selective on our pitches today."
               WNCC opened the first game with 10 hits. They scored four times n the second on a run-scoring double by Shelby McGraw before erupting for four more runs in the third inning, highlighted by a double by Mariah Shepherd and a 2-run home by Cash.
               Cash came back with a solo shot in the fourth inning. Cash finished the game going 2-for-2 with three runs scored, two home runs, and three RBIs.
               Duran finished the game going 4-for-4 with two doubles.
               WNCC was just as impressive in the second game offensively, finishing with 10 hits. Cash finished the game with two solo home runs. Duran started the scoring in the first as she blasted a 2-run home run to straight-away centerfield for a 2-0 lead.
               After that, the Cougars never looked back. Besides the three home runs, WNCC also had four doubles, two each from McGraw and Jennifer Cottle.
               McGraw picked up the win in the circle, allowing just four hits, while striking out two in five innings of work.
               "For Shelby's first conference game, I thought she did a really good job," Duran said.
               The Cougars, 11-2, will be back in action Saturday at Frank Phillips before facing Western Texas College on Sunday.
               "We just have to keep playing the way we are playing because the only team that will beat us is ourselves," Duran said.

First Game
WNCC                  044 11 -- 10 10 0
Lamar                   000 00 -- 0 0 0
WP -- Bianca Duran; 2B -- Duran 2, Mariah Shepherd, Shelby McGraw; HR -- Kasey Cash 2.

Second Game
WNCC                  213 11 -- 8 10 0
Lamar                   000 00 -- 0 4 1
WP -- McGraw; 2B -- Jennifer Cottle 2, McGraw 2; HR -- Cash 2, Duran.