Stellar pitching sparks Cougars

Submitted by Alex Helmbrecht
Star-Herald Sports Reporter
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La JUNTA, Colo. - Western Nebraska Community College starting pitcher Phillips Orta pitched a complete game to lead the Cougars to their 4-2 win over Otero Junior College during the first game of their doubleheader Saturday in La Junta, Colo.

In the second game, WNCC rallied from a 2-0 deficit after five innings and scored three runs in the final two innings to clip Otero, 3-2. Dan Bauer got the win after coming in relief of starting pitcher Jeff McDonald.

"It's always good to win a conference doubleheader on the road," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "And since we won both of them today we're going into (today's) games with Otero with a lot of momentum."

Orta, who improved his record to 3-2 on the season, helped the Cougars withstand three costly errors, which resulted in two Otero runs in the first inning, as he struck out three and allowed just one hit after the opening inning. Orta also struck out three, while walking one.

"I'm very pleased with how Phillips pitched," Jones said. "He did a nice job of keeping his composure on the mound after a bad defensive first inning. He did an outstanding job pitching."

WNCC's Marco Moreno led the Cougars from the plate with a 2 for 4 outing, including a triple. Moreno also knocked in a run. Chris Hook's lone hit - a single in the fourth inning - scored two runs that gave the Cougars the lead for good at 3-2, and WNCC's Gilbert Gonzalez scored two runs and hit a double.

In the second game, the Cougars found themselves down 2-0 after five innings, but they scored two runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game and Gonzalez scored the winning run in the top of the seventh to give WNCC its 3-2 win.Gonzalez, Daniel Martinez and Eneldis Vazquez all belted doubles for the Cougars.

Bauer, who serves as WNCC's closer, pitched 1 1/3 innings to get the win. He relived McDonald with the tying run on third base. But Bauer struck out Otero's batter to end the Rattlers' threat. In the seventh inning, Bauer sat the Rattlers' down in order and he fanned two of the four batters he faced in the game.

"Dan's been a real nice closer for us and he's come in and pitched well during some clutch spots," Jones said. "Today he had to really reach back and he came in and mowed them down."

Game One
WNCC 000 301 0 - 4 7 3
Otero 200 000 0 - 2 2 1
WP - Orta (3-2); LP - Hershman; 3B - Moreno; 2B - Gonzalez.

Game Two
WNCC (8-15) 000 002 1 - 3 7 0
Otero 010 010 0 - 2 7 1
WP - Bauer; LP - Vierra; 2B - Gonzalez, Martinez, Vazquez.