WNCC baseball falls to Seward County

Submitted by JEREMY Woznick
Star-Herald Sports Reporter
(For more added coverage and daily Cougar stories, visit the Star-Herald online at www.starherald.com).

GLENDALE, Ariz. - The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team ran into another strong pitching performance Tuesday afternoon against Seward County Community College during the fourth day of its spring break road trip.

After scoring only two runs in a loss to Glendale Community College on Monday, the Cougars were limited to only one run through eight innings Tuesday before falling 7-3. The loss dropped the Cougars to 2-4 on their Arizona swing and 7-15 overall.

"Their [Seward County's] lefthander did a good job of keeping our offense in check," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "We didn't have a lot of good swings at pitches today and he did a nice job of mixing up his pitches. Take nothing away from Seward County, but I didn't think we played with much intensity and that was a little disappointing."

WNCC jumped in front 1-0 in the top of the second before Seward County answered with a run in its half of the second and went ahead for good with a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth.

Trailing 7-1 entering the ninth, the Cougars plated a pair of runs in the top of the inning.
Offensively in the game, WNCC was led by JayC Perez. Perez went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Gilbert Gonzalez went 2-for-4 and Chris Hook finished with a double and two runs scored.

Cesar Perez took the loss on the mound for the Cougars after pitching three and two/thirds innings. Perez allowed four runs on seven hits. After a day off today, WNCC wraps up its spring break trip Thursday against Phoenix College in Phoenix.

Phillips Orta is scheduled to get the start on the mound, but will see limited action as Jones plans to use a committee of pitchers.

"I think it's real important that we come out and play well on Thursday," Jones said. "We would really like to go into Otero this weekend with some momentum."

WNCC (7-15) 010 000 002 - 3 7 2
Seward County 010 130 11x - 7 13 1
LP - Cesar Perez (0-1); 2B - JayC Perez, Chris Hook.