Baseball falls in two one-run games

               LA JUNTA, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped two one-run games to Otero Junior College on Saturday in La Junta, Colo.

               In the first game, the Cougars fell 4-3 in 11 innings. The second game, WNCC gave up six first-inning runs and then came back and had a chance to win in the seventh but left the bases loaded and lost 6-5.

               WNCC and Otero will battle once again on Sunday in another conference doubleheader beginning at 12 noon.

               WNCC had plenty of opportunities to win the opening game in regulation. WNCC jumped on top with a single run in the second as Oswaldo Gonzalez was walked in for the run. Otero came back to score twice in the bottom of the frame for a 2-1 lead.

               The Cougars came right back  in the third inning with two runs on two hits. Alex Michaud had a run-scoring single and Gabriel DeLa Rosa had a run-scoring ground out.

               Otero tied the game with a single run in the sixth. Neither team scored in the seventh, forcing extra innings. WNCC had prime scoring opportunities in the 10th and 11th innings to go ahead. In the 10th, Zach Ostergard walked and then Gonzalez was intentionally walked but the Cougars couldn't take advantage.

               The 11th inning saw DeLa Rosa get hit my a pitch followed by Krause getting a double to put runners in scoring position with one out. Anthony Delgado then walked to load the bases, but WNCC couldn't scratch across a run.

               WNCC had six hits in the game. Krause went 2-for-5 with the only extra base hit.

               Chalis Wright started the contest and went seven innings, allowing just three runs on nine hits. Wright struck out four and walked just two. Cedric Desmedt picked up the loss, tossing the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing a run on five hits and striking out one.

               The second game was a battle. After WNCC fell behind 6-0 after one inning, the Cougars scored twice in the third and fourth, and then one run in the seventh. JT Core had a 2-run scoring double in the third to get the Cougar offense started.

               JT Core led the way for the Cougars with two hits, both doubles. Core also had two RBIs. Also getting two hits was Keeton Krause and Cameron Snyder. Snyder had an RBI single in the seventh.

               Grant Piccoli picked up the loss. Piccoli went six innings, giving up six runs on seven hits and striking out six.

First Game

WNCC                  012 000 000 00 -- 3 6 1

Otero                   020 001 000 01 -- 4 14 2

LP -- Cedric Desmoedt; 2B -- Keeton Krause.

Second Game

WNCC                  002 200 1 -- 5 9 1

Otero                   600 000 x -- 6 7 0

LP -- Grant Piccoli; 2B -- JT Core 2, Krause 1.