WNCC softball splits with Luna

                LAS VEGAS, N.M. -- The 13th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College softball team smashed six home runs against Luna Community College on Sunday in Las Vegas, N.M., but had to settle for a split of a doubleheader on Sunday.

                The Cougars has five home runs and 11 hits in the first game 11-3 win. The second game saw the Cougars manage just five hits in the 8-2 loss. The loss dropped the Cougars to 23-6 on the season as they continue the road swing with a doubleheader at Adams State junior varsity on Monday.

                The opening game was all Cougars as the offense had six extra base hits and got a sterling pitching performance from Bianca Duran for the win.

                Duran went four innings in allowing six hits, one run and striking out three.

                Offensively, the Cougars smacked the ball with authority. WNCC scored one run in the second and then opened up the contest with two solo home runs in the third from Duran and Nicole Weiss for a 3-0 lead.

                WNCC continued pounding the ball in the fourth as Danielle Hearn led off with a home run to left field. After two outs, Angel Council and Duran had back-to-back singles. Shelby McGraw then singled home both runners before Haley Paxton ripped a 2-run home run to centerfield for the 8-1 lead.

                Kasey Cash hammered the fifth home run of the game with a 2-run line-drive home run to centerfield for the 11-1 lead.

                Duran paced the Cougars with a 3-for-3 game with two runs scored, a double and a home run. Hearn finished the game with a two hits, two RBIs and a home run. Lindsey Shiels-Brophy had two runs scored in the game on one hit.

                The second game saw WNCC manage just five hits and never led in the contest. Luna went up 2-0 in the second inning before WNCC sliced the lead in half int he fourth inning as Mariah Shepherd scored on an error.

                Luna came back to score three times in the fourth and sixth inning to take an 8-1 lead. WNCC made a slight comeback n the seventh as Hearn smashed her second homer of the day, but it wasn't enough to get the win.

                Duran and Weiss each had two hits in the contest.

                Shelby McGraw took the loss in the circle, going four innings in allowing five runs on seven hits. Ravae Herrera tossed six innings in striking out four and allowing three runs on four hits. Each pitcher gave up one home run.

First Game

WNCC                   012 53 -- 11 11 1

Luna                      001 02 -- 3 7 1

WP -- Bianca Duran; 2B -- Duran; HR -- Duran, Danielle Hearn, Nicole Weiss, Kasey Cash, Haley Paxton.

Second Game

WNCC                   000 100 1 -- 2 5 2

Luna                      020 303 x -- 8 11 2

LP -- Shelby McGraw; 2B -- Weiss; HR -- Hearn