PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team continues to excel offensively, pounding out 30 hits and scoring 27 runs in claiming a doubleheader from Gateway Community College Monday in the first day of their Spring Break trip in Arizona.
The Cougars have now won 11 straight games, running their record to 16-7 on the season.
“They are hitting the ball really well and defense as been solid,” WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “Overall, this is a team that sticks together and supports each other.”
Monday, the Cougars used big innings to take control of both contests. In the opener, WNCC grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third inning and then scored nine runs in the fourth to grab an 11-0 lead.
The team pounded out 13 hits in the contests. Jessie McNabb continued her sizzling hitting going 3-for-3 with four RBIs and two doubles. Kara Ryman and Amanda Hensley each went 2-for-4 in the opener. Ryman continued her extra-base hitting with two doubles, while Hensley also belted two doubles.
Natasha Dypchey picked up the win pitching five strong innings, while striking out five and walking two.
The second game was a wild affair. WNCC scored eight runs in the first inning on five walks, two hits-batsman and four hits. The big hit the inning was a McNabb double.
Gateway, though, came right back taking a 9-8 lead through three innings with five runs in the first, three in the second and a single run in the third.
WNCC responded with five runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh to earn the slugfest victory. The two teams combined for 30 hits and 29 runs in the contest.
Hensley and McNabb were perfect in the game, going 3-for-3. Hensley also had three runs scored and two RBIs, while McNabb had three runs scored, four RBIs and a double.
Ryman continued her hitting with a 3-for-4 performance, including a double, two runs scored and four RBIs.
Also picking up multi-hits were Jessica Ventoza, Ashley Eichelberger and Whittany Foster. Amanda Torimaru also chipped in a double.
Dypchey picked up the win coming in relief of Jessica Pexton in the second inning. Dypchey struck out two in the win.
Winn-Ratliff was pleased with the team’s hitting, which is among the top 10 in the nation. “The first game we swung the bats really well,” she said. “In the beginning of the second game we struggled a bit and it took us until the fifth inning to get our bats going.”
WNCC will continue the Spring Break trip with a doubleheader against Chandler-Gilbert this afternoon in Phoenix.
First Game
WNCC 002 90 – 11 13
Gateway 000 03 – 3 6
WP – Dypchey; 2B – McNabb 2, Ryman 2, Hensley 2.
Second Game
WNCC 800 052 1 – 16 17
Gateway 531 020 2 – 13 13
WP – Dypchey; 2B -- McNabb, Ryman, Torimaru.
No comments:
Post a Comment