Baseball splits games with Otero

               LA JUNTA, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team opened up its offense in the second game of a doubleheader against Otero Junior College Sunday afternoon in La Junta, Colo.

               The Cougars received home runs from Alex Michaud and Anthony Delgado and the Cougars plated 10 runs in earning a 10-0 win over the Rattlers. The win came on the heels of another heartbreaking loss in the first game, falling to the Rattlers 1-0.

               The first game was a contest where starting pitcher Grant Rimington threw well in a complete game appearance. Rimington scattered seven hits, walked two and struck out two.

               The Rattlers scored the only run they needed in the first inning on just two hits. WNCC had plenty of opportunities to get the tying or go-ahead run but just couldn't get clutch hit they needed.

               WNCC finished with just four hits with Gabriel DeLa Rosa recording the only extra base hit of a double.

               While the Cougars offense was minimal in the first game, the second game was totally different. WNCC racked up 10 hits. Cameron Snyder and Anthony Delgado had the big games, each collecting two hits.

               Snyder had a double and triple along with three RBIs and two runs scored. Delgado had a double, home run, three runs scored and a RBI.

               WNCC got on the scoreboard first as Delgado led off with a solo home run to left field. The lead stayed at 1-0 until the fifth inning when WNCC exploded for seven runs on five hits.

               WNCC took advantage of Otero pitching woes. The Rattlers walked three of the first four batters to load the bases. After that, WNCC's bats came alive as JT Core delivered a 2-run scoring single followed by Snyder hitting a 2-run double.

               Snyder came around to score on a Oswaldo Gonzalez single. Michaud finished off the scoring by ripping a 2-run home run to left field for the 8-0 lead.

               WNCC kept it's lively hitting alive in the sixth, adding two more runs. Delgado led off the inning with a double and scored on a Snyder triple. Five pitches later, Shyder scored the 10th run of the game on a wild pitch.

               Nick Vanthillo had a blazing mound experience, tossing six strong innings in scattering four hits, walking three and striking out two. Vanthillo faced just 25 batters and threw 83 pitches to get the win.

               WNCC, 12-25, will next be in action this weekend as they host Northeastern Junior College in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday. Northeastern is in second place in Empire Conference action with a 25-18 overall record and 13-6 in conference play. WNCC dropped to fifth place in conference play with a 5-10 record

First Game

WNCC                  000 000 0 -- 0 4 1

Otero                   100 000 x -- 1 7 0

LP --Grant Rimington; 2B -- Gabriel DeLa Rosa.

Second Game

WNCC                  001 072 -- 10 10 0

Otero                   000 000 -- 0 4 0

WP -- Nick Vanthllo; 2B -- Cameron Snyder, Anthony Delgado; 3B -- Snyder; HR -- Alex Michaud, Anthony Delgado.