WNCC baseball splits with Lamar

               {April] LAMAR, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College received a stellar pitching performance from Challis Wright and the Cougars split an Empire Conference doubleheader against No. 7 Lamar Community College Saturday afternoon in Lamar, Colo.

                Wright tossed six strong innings and the Cougars received clutch hitting in the 5-4 first-game win. The second game saw Lamar come back and topple the Cougars 8-2 for the split.

                WNCC led the first game from start to finish, scoring twice in the second on just one hit, a lead-off single by Cameron Snyder.

                Lamar came back to slice the lead in half with a single run in the bottom of the second, but WNCC added single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh. Alex Michaud gave the Cougars a a2-run cushion in the fourth with a solo blast.

                The fifth saw the Anthony Delgado earn a lead-off walk. Delgado then stole second and ended up scoring in a dropped third strike and an throwing error. The Cougars final run came in the seventh as Snyder doubled in Delgado.

                The Cougars finished with just five hits. Snyder was the only Cougar with at least two hits, going 2-for-4 with a double, RBI, and a run scored. Ostergard also had a double and RBI, while Michaud had a home run.

                Wright went six innings to get the win, scattering five hits and allowing four runs. The sophomore from Aurora, Colo., struck out two and walked three. Cedric Desmedt picked up the save, tossing the seventh.

                The second game started out as a barn-burner as Lamar took a 1-0 lead after two innings only to watch WNCC tie the game with a single run in the third as Keeton Krause scored on a passed ball.

                Lamar put the game away in the fourth with seven runs on eight hits, including a home run, two triples, a double, and four singles for the 8-1 lead.

                WNCC managed just three hits in the contest from Michaud, Ostergard, and JT Core.

                Grant Piccolli took the loss, going three innings in giving up six runs on 10 hits and striking out three. John Timmins finished off the game, going three innings and allowing two runs on four hits and striking out one.

                The two teams will be back in action today in another conference doubleheader. WNCC will then return home for a doubleheader against Northeastern Junior College on Wednesday.

First Game

WNCC                   020 110 1 -- 5 5 1

Lamar                    010 110 1 -- 4 6 2

WP -- Challis Wright, S -- Cedric Desmedt; 2B -- Cameron Snyder, Zach Ostergard; HR -- Alex Michaud.

Second Game

WNCC                   001 001 0 -- 2 3 0              

Lamar                    010 700 x -- 8 14 1

LP -- Grant Piccolli.