Friday, April 04, 2014

March 10 -- WNCC softball picks up two more wins over Dawson




                [March 10] The Western Nebraska Community College softball team picked up two more wins over Dawson Community College on Monday at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff.
                Monday's games saw plenty of offense. In game one, Jessica Ball had two home runs and the Cougars came back for an 8-7 win. The second game saw the Cougars register a 14-6 six-inning win to move their record to 17-7 overall.
                Ball, who finished Monday with two home runs and six RBIs, said they did alright, but they could have done better.
                "We did good today but I think we can pick it up a little bit more," the freshman from xxx xxx said.  it is important to build off of these wins because it will get us pumped up for bigger games in our conference and I think we will do good."
                The one thing the Cougars have to learn still is to put a team away, something they didn't do this weekend very much. At times, the Cougars looked unstoppable, but then they let Dawson make comebacks. Ball said they will get better as the season comes and the college inexperience is slowly wearing off.
                "Just because we are young, we are getting into the new groove of things as the season goes along," she said. "I think we are starting to get a lot of leadership know and I think we will pick it up some more."
                Ball said that getting four wins this weekend at home was nice and each win they get, it helps with the experience of this team.
                "it is really important to get the two wins [on Monday]," she said. "Every time we get a win i think it pumps us up even more. These wins will feed us for the other games. I am just excited for the rest of the season. Each game we get stronger and stronger."
                The first game Monday was a game where WNCC held an early 4-0 lead after scoring three times in the third 2-run home run from Ball. After that, Dawson came back to grab a 6-4 lead. The Cougars fought back, scoring once in the fifth and then three times in the sixth to take an 8-6 lead.
                The sixth saw Ball and Shelby McGraw lead off the inning with back-to-back home runs.
                Jordan Smith then finished off the seventh. First, Smith gave up a solo home run to McKenzie Bassett. After that, Smith struck out one, and then induced a fly ball and a groundout for the win.
                Smith tossed the final 3 1/3 innings for the win, scattering four hits, allowing three runs, and striking out two. McGraw started the game in the circle, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out three.
                WNCC pounded out eight hits to 10 for Dawson. Angel Council and Ball led the way each with two singles and three RBIs. Ball had two home runs.
                WNCC pounded out 19 hits in the second game and quickly took control of the contest, scoring twice in the first and the plating eight in the second for a 10-0 lead. The second inning was highlighted by 10 hits, including a 2-run home run by Alysa Linford.
                The Cougars saw the lead sliced in half 10-5 in the fifth. The Cougars came back with two in the fifth to go up 12-5 and then put the game away in the sixth with two run-scoring singles by Council and Ball to end the game.
                Davis picked up the win, going 4 2/3 innings in allowing five hits, two runs, and Striking out one. RaVae Herrera also saw action in the circle, going 1 1/3 innings in allowing four runs on six hits.
                The Cougars 19-hit attack Council, Ball, MCGraw, and Courtney Cloud all getting three hits. Ball and Council each had three RBIs and two runs scored, while McGraw had two RBIs. Linford had two hits with four RBIs. Lindsay Guymon also had two hits with two runs scored and a RBI.
                WNCC (17-7) will next be in action Wednesday when they travel to Lamar Community College for a conference game. WNCC's next home game is March 21 when they host Otero Junior College.

First Game
Dawson                                000 420 1 -- 7 10 0
WNCC                   103 013 x -- 8 8 1
WP -- Jordan Smith, LP -- Bryce Mitchell; HR -- WNCC (Jessica Ball 2, Shelby McGraw), Dawson (McKenzie Bassett).

Second Game
Dawson                (0-4)     002 031 -- 6 11 0
WNCC (17-7)      280 022 -- 14 19 2
WP -- Madison Davis; LP -- Cassidy Chester; 2B -- WNCC (Ball, McGraw); HR -- WNCC (Alysa Linford).


No comments: